To Kill or Not to Kill?

The article "To Kill or Not to Kill" by Patricia Smith is about the great debate for or against the death penalty. It also gives the history of how the death penalty was distributed and how it has changed over the years. The author wants the reader to know about the debate going on nationwide arguing whether or not the death penalty should be banned. She does this by giving examples of scenarios where people have been given the death sentence. Also, she provides different point of views from people on whether or not they believe the death penalty should be banned.

One way that the author made the readers think about whether or not the death penalty should be banned was by giving a history of the death penalty. For example the author informed us of the ways the death penalty used to be distributed. The article states; "The death penalty in the U.S. dates to colonial times... hanging was the most common method. By the 1950s, most were using either the gas chamber or the electrocution. This also shows how the death penalty has changed over time. The death penalty is not as brutal as it used to be.

Another way that the author made the readers think about whether or not the death penalty should be banned was by providing scenarios in which the death penalty would have been given to get different point of views. For example, "Christopher Simmons was 17 when he and a friend robbed, bound, and gagged a women in Missouri, then pushed her into a river." He was given the death sentence. This might help people form their opinions on whether or not the death penalty should be banned.

In conclusion, the authors purpose in writing this article is to make the readers think about whether or not the death penalty should be banned.

Field Trip Reflection

          Yesterday, November 12, 2014 we took a field trip to The Museum of the City of New York specifically to see the Taking a Stand Exhibit. Whilst exploring the exhibit I found that the topic that stood out to me was about the fight for feminism. This part of the exhibit was about the fight for women to have the same rights as men do. From this part of the exhibit I learned about the history behind feminism and the big movement women went on for equal rights.

          I originally did not know very much about the fight for feminism and had not really researched the topic or been taught much about it. I just kind of knew the basic facts, not too in depth. From this part of the exhibit I learned a lot more in depth details about the fight for feminism and was given a more descriptive summary which gave me a much better understanding of the topic/movement. One new thing that I learned was some of the important people that helped with the movement such as Carrie Chapman Catty, Rosalie Jones, and Harriet Stanton Batch whom provided strategies for mass organizing and publicity. Another thing I learned was that reason the demonstrations took place in New York because New York being the media capital could easily attract a national audience to watch these demonstrations. The part of this part of the exhibit about the fight for feminism that I found the most interesting was all of the artifacts they had from the movement/time period on display. I liked this because I could really examine something up close instead of just a black and white photograph.

Why is Fallout by Ellen Hopkins Considered a Banned Book?

          The book "Fallout" by Ellen Hopkins consists of three different stories told from the point of view of three different people. The characters and their stories are all very different, but at the same time they are very similar. The one thing tying them together was their mother, Kristina. Kristina is a drug addict and does not really play a very positive  role in any of her children's life's. This book show the effect that this has on her children's life's and their family. A lot of people find this book inappropriate for children to read and feel it should be banned from classrooms. This book handles a lot of deep issues such as sex, drugs, alcohol, rape, abuse, addiction, depression, law-breaking, and family issues. Some people may find such heavy content too much for children and do not want them reading it.

          One reason why people might find this book's content too much for children is because it handles drug and alcohol addiction as well as rape and abuse. "The story goes Kristina was date-raped by some low-life druggie life guard dealer." Hunter, Kristina's eldest claims this is the story he was told about how his mother became pregnant with him. This shows how drugs, rape, or just straight out carelessness can unintentionally change someone's life forever. "I'm more of a dabbler then a dedicated fuckup. A little weed, a little coke." This quote from the book shows how Hunter does drugs just like his mother. Even though he is not a drug addict you would still not expect him to do drugs after what it did to his mother and his family. His mother might even have influenced him to smoke.