Powerball plans...

I my family were to suddenly win the lottery,  we would be overjoyed! It would feel relieving to have so much money because we would never have to worry about losing all of our money or going broke. It would be amazing because we could live differently- meaning that we could buy more things than we could before. On the other hand, we might become worried that people may treat us differently because of all the money we have. It might be scary to think that someone might try to steal our money as well. My parents would most likely keep working and save the money, but also spend a little more here and there on nicer things than we have now. They would put some of the money in my brother's and my name, and save some for our college funds as well. In addition, we would probably give some money to our family and closest friends.

There are several conflicts that might arise between us and other family members if we were to win the lottery. First, as I mentioned before, our friends and family might treat us kinder to get money from us or be bitter towards us from jealousy. Also, some friends and our family might argue about what they think that we should do with the money. This could lead to a change in relationship between our friends and family, and between us and our family. In addition, my parents or my brother- or even I for that matter- could potentially change from suddenly coming into so much money. It might go to our heads, and we may be overwhelmed when trying to deal with all of the money. Winning the lottery could be equally positive for my family and I, as it could be detrimental to our lives and the lives of our friends and family.

End of OMM

I think that John Steinbeck ended the book the way that he did to show that Lennie and Candy's dog  both died in a similar way- they were both happy and content when they died.

Symbol for Crooks

Day dreamers...

It is extremely important for people to have dreams because it creates one's purpose in life, and helps a person to discover who they are by striving for their goals every day.  In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and George exemplify this idea as they dream about owning a ranch together one day. This creates a sense of purpose for both of them. For example,  when George and Lennie are making a deal with Candy to pay for their own ranch together George says, " 'Look, if me an' Lennie work a month an' don't spen' nothing, we'll have a hunderd bucks. That'd be four fifty. I bet we could swing her for that' " (60). This illustrates how important it is for people to have dreams because Lennie and George create a purpose for themselves when they plan to work for a month in order to buy a ranch with Candy. It is their purpose to keep working and help old Candy to quit his job and have a place to live before he is fired from his job, and dreaming about the ranch will help them fulfill their purpose. Furthermore, having dreams in life helps a person to discover themself as they work towards what they want in life. For instance,  when George and Lennie are  discussing how they would live if they had a ranch Lennie exclaims, " ' We could live offa the fatta the lan' ' " (57). This proves the importance of having dreams in life because as George and Lennie think about who they will be and how they will live , they discover who they are at the moment and what they want to become. It is so important for people to dream because without dreams, one has nothing to live for or contribute to the world.

Do what I say, or else!!!

The relationship between George and Lennie in the novella Of Mice and Men is abusive because of George's short-temper, and the way he controls Lennie. George's short-temper contributes greatly to the abusive relationship between him and Lennie. For instance, when George is mad and yelling at Lennie by the fire he says, "When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace" (Steinbeck 12). This shows that Lennie and George's relationship is abusive because it makes Lennie feel awful that George has to take care of him, and George intentionally makes him upset this way. Also, the way that George controls Lennie creates an abusive relationship between them. For example, as George explains to Lennie that he cannot get into trouble at the new ranch they are going to work at he states, "But you ain't gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won't let you tend the rabbits" (Steinbeck 16). This illustrates that George and Lennie have an abusive relationship because George is controlling Lennie by telling him what he can and cannot do, and it is unfair and cruel that Lennie has to do what George says all the time. George is abusive to Lennie, and it is wrong  of him to be so mean to a person who sincerely needs his help and could not live without him.

Conclusion

The brutal yet important part of history that it reveals to the reader, the theme that one should always be greatful for what they have it displays, and the touching love story it beholds all make Between Shades of Gray a book that all freshman in high school should certainly read. This book, if read by freshman, will teach them many lessons about relationships with others and to value their possetions. It is also a heart-felt love story that will grab the attention of freshman readers because they can relate to the young love aspect of the story. It is extremely important for freshman to read Between Shades of Gray so that they can take the lessons they learn from the story, apply what they learn to their own lives, and help make the world an overall better place.

MEAT outline

M: The brutal yet important part of history that students should be aware of that Between Shades of Gray uncovers makes it an important novel for freshman to read.
E: For example, at the beginning of the book Lina writes, " 'Twenty minutes' the officer barked. He threw his burning cigarette onto our clean living room floor and ground it into the wood with his boot. We were about to become cigarettes" (Sepetys 5).
A: This displays the brutality that the NKVD officers showed to the Lithuanians while re-locating them to Siberia. Although this brutality may be a harsh and disturbing to read, it is important for students to understand this part of history because it has been covered up for too long.
E: In addition, Lina is deported from her home in Lithuania because her father helped her cousin to escape before the NKVD got them, and she realizes that, "Joana's freedom had cost me mine) (Sepetys 291).
A: This quote illustrates why freshman should read the book because it explains how unfair it was to some families who helped others to escape Lithuania in 1941, which is important for students to understand when thinking about our world's history.
T: Freshman should understand the hardships that people went through during World War II because nobody has said anything about it, and it is important to think about why history has happened the way it did.


M: Between Shades of Gray is a boom that should be read by freshman in high school because it teaches the reader to be grateful for what they have.
E: For instance, at the beginning of the book when Lina is being arrested she writes, "I shut the bathroom door and caught sight of my face in the mirror... It was the last time I would look into a real  mirror for more than a decade" (Sepetys 12).
A: The reader can learn to be grateful for what they have from this part of the book because it shows how one can lose something so simple in the blink of an eye, and that it is important to cherish the simple things in life. This is important for students to learn because many freshman take the things they have for granted, and it can help them to realize how lucky they are to have the things that they do.
E: Furthermore, Lina writes that when she was rushing to get all of her things together to leave with the NKVD, "I snapped the latches closed and rushed out of the room, the curtains blowing, flapping over the loaf of fresh bread still sitting on my desk" (Sepetys 8).
A: This exemplifies why freshman should read this book because of how insignificant a loaf of bread was to Lina before she was taken. After she made it to Siberia she would have given anything to have the loaf of bread, which also shows the reader how important it is for one to value they're possessions.
T: The reader can learn to be grateful for what they own from Between Shades of Gray.


M: The intriguing love story within Between Shades of Gray makes it a book that freshman in high school should certainly read .
E: For example, at the end of the book Lina writes that the boy she fell in love with while being re-located by a train, Andrius, will eventually end up with her. She writes. "I closed my eyes. I felt Andrius moving close. 'I'll see you,' he said" (Sepetys 336).
A: This quote expresses how deep the love story within the book is, and it shows how interesting the book is. It illustrates why freshman should read the book because they could relate to the young love story within the main plot because they may have been in a similar relationship with another person before, and they can apply the situation in the book to their own lives.
E: In addition, when Lina sees her father for the last time in the train car, he says, " 'Say your prayers children, and I will hear them' " (Sepetys 44).
A: When her father says this it exemplifies the love he has for his children, and high school freshman should read this book because it is important to understand the love that parents have for their children no matter what the situations they are in is. This will help the freshman to be more grateful for their parents, and have a stronger love for the people who have raised them.
T: The theme of enduring love in Between Shades of Gray is both touching and tragic.

Introduction and Thesis

Lina took the warm loaf of bread on her desk for granted, not realizing how much it really meant until they took her. The book Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is a heart-wrenching, tragic story about relationships and the will to survive, as well as an informative novel about an important yet unfamiliar historical event. It is about a 15- year- old girl named Lina who is arrested from her home in Lithuania in 1941, along with her younger brother, Jonas, and her parents. They are re-located by the NKVD to a camp in Siberia as Joseph Stalin attempts to take over Lithuania.   Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys should be read by freshman in high school because it uncovers a brutal yet important part of  history that students should be aware of, it teaches the reader to be grateful for what they have, and it is an intriguing love story.

What do humans need in order to live a fulfilling life?

              In my opinion, there are several things that a person needs in order to live a fulfilling life including happiness, goals, family, challenges, and love. First of all, happiness is a necesity when trying to build a fulfilling life. It is extremely important for a person to do what makes them happy in life because if you don't enjoy what you do every day, there is no reason to wake up every morning. It only makes sense to me to find something you love to do and do that special something every day you possibly can. Next, I personally believe that a fulfilling life should include goals and aspirations that a person can work towards over time. Without goals, you won't have a purpose in your life, and will have no reason to stay alive. Family is another significant aspect of a fulfilling life in so many ways. Family is extremely important, especially when a person is in need of support and care during challenging or sad times in their life. Without a family it would be too hard to cope with hard times in life, and people would never be able to keep reaching for their dreams without care from their family whenever challenges arise. Although these challenges get in the way of our goals, they are another crucial part of a fulfilling life in my opinion. This is because when we run into challenges, they make us stronger and make us experienced. Being experienced makes a person wise, and that to me is a huge part of having a fulfilling life. Lastly, love is a valuable piece of a fulfilling life because everyone wants to be loved, and everyone wants to give love. I think that a life full of love is certainly a fulfilling one. In conclusion, I think that in order to live a fulfilling life humans need happiness, goals, family, challenges, and love.