12 angry men

12 angry men

      Gentlemen of the jury, I would like to point out to you three pieces of evidence that prove this young boy is innocent.  I would like to revewthe purchase of the knife, the old man hearing a yell, and the movie theater.  The future of this young boy is in your hands now, make the right decision.  Find him innocent.

      First off, the knife that was purchased the night of the murder.  After fighting with his dad, he wanted to get away from his house.  He lives in the slum, a very dangerous place.  Feeling he needed defense,  he went to the shop and bought this knife.  He is very knowledgeable of knives, and here is something to think about.  The wound that was found on his dad cut at a strange angle.  If this boy had stabbed him, it would have been a an underhand cut.  Not like the overhand wound found on his dad. 

      What about the old man claiming to hear the boy yell? How could this be possible?  The old man does not have that good of hearing.  Also, at that same time, the train was going by his house.  This train is very loud.  How could an old man with poor hearing hear this?  .  This old man is not a believable witness to the murder of this man.  You can't believe what he said.  The train was just too loud for him to possibly hear the yells of the boy.

      After leaving his house, the boy went to see a movie to get away from all of this.  He was under total stress.  I am sure he did not care to look at the title of the movie.  He probably just wanted in to get away.  This way his mind was focused on other things other than his father.  He thought that if he got away. he would come back in a better mood to be with his father. 

      I have presented you with the three best points of evidence to prove the innocence of this young boy.  Think of this, how could a young boy do this to his father?  Even though he was a victim of abuse, l love is still inside  him.   That is why this boy is innocent.  Now remember, Jury, this is a life and death situation that sits in front of you.  Make the right decision, or the young life of an innocent child will be ruined forever.  The defense rests.

8 nights: A murder on the eighth night was caused by an old mans "evil" eye

8 nights

-A murder on the eighth night was

caused by an old mans "evil" eye.

By Oscar Villa______

Fourth Period

     Vancouver, WA- An unidentified old

man was murdered in his own residence last night when his butler confessed to murdering him. The butler's motive was to get rid of the old man's "evil" looking eye.                                                             

"It all started about 1 week ago" the butler explained.  "I just couldn't keep on looking at the old man's "evil" eye.  I went in his sleeping quarters every night for eight nights but I didn't kill him though, because his eye wasn't open.  I wanted to kill him with his eye open.  On the eighth night was when I did it.  I made a little to much noise trying to sneak into his room, the old man awoke.  I stayed very still for about an hour then I shined my lantern on his eye and I could see that it was opened so I attacked, I got one of his pillows and suffocated him, I then dismembered his body in the bathtub so there wouldn't be any traces of blood to be found.  I then put the body parts under the planks in the floor," explained the butler.

"When we went to the house to check out a scream a neighbor heard, the butler opened the door and was real nice, he let us snoop around the house to show us that nothing was wrong.  He said he had a bad dream.  Then when he took us into the old man's sleeping chamber he started to get real impatient and started to act weird that is when he confessed the murder to us." explained a detective.  "When we took off the planks we saw the dismembered body parts and then we arrested him." said detective Smith.  "If it wasn't for that neighbor that heard the scream we would have never known there was a murder."  The butler is now in a hospital for the criminally insane. The butler is now awaiting his court dates yet to be announced.

5 Modes of Transportation

      In order to have easy mobility of persons and goods,  it is necessary to have a sophisticated and widespread transportation system.  This system is made up of five primary areas of transportation, which are:

 ·    Motor vehicles

 ·    Railroad transportation

 ·    Air transportation

 ·    Water transportation

 ·    Pipelines

Each of these five modes consists of different subsystems which make up the system.  Each mode is used to transport persons or goods, but in many instances, one mode may be favored over the others.  All five modes require some primary source of funds for building and maintaining the infrastructure.  These funds may come from a number of different places such as the federal government, state, or the city through which the system runs.  Different government agencies have jurisdiction over the modes.  These agencies focus on maintaining and improving safety of each system.  The individual states also have certain obligations to the operation and regulation of the different modes of transportation.

      Each mode is made up of primary subsystems.  The subsystems of railroad transportation include freight trains and passenger trains.  Freight trains are used to transport goods and materials between cities while passenger trains are used to transport people.  Although freight trains are still used all across the nation, rail intercity freight has accounted for a decreasing share of the total ton mileage over the past 30 years.  This is mostly due to the increase in truck transport.  Rail passenger traffic had also declined over the years until better service was offered by Amtrak and the price of fuel increased.  Much of the decline in rail passenger traffic has been due to the increasing number of air passengers.

      Air transport can also be divided into the subsystems of passenger and freight transport.  Passenger air travel has rapidly increased over the years due to:

 ·    Increasing Gross National Product

 ·    Increasing wealth of the middle-income groups

 ·    Increasing number of nonprimary industry in the economic system

 ·    Increasing amount of general aviation

 ·    Improved technology

The areas for air transport of express and freight and mail has also increased rapidly over the years.  This is due mostly to improved technology which has steadily lowered the cost of air transport. 

      Like rail and air transport, water transportation can also be broken down to passenger and freight transport.  Passenger transportation by water only accounts for a very small percentage of water transport because it is very slow and relatively inconvenient for most people.  This is primarily used by people for vacation purposes.  Most often, water transport is used for freight movement of items that are bulky and of low cost per unit volume.  

      Pipelines can be divided into two principle classes including oil and natural gas pipelines.  Oil pipelines are used to transport oil and oil-products.  Gas pipelines differ from oil pipelines in that they are not in competition with other carriers.

      Each mode is used to convey certain goods or materials.  Highways are most often used to carry motor vehicles.  These vehicles may be privately owned, company owned, or even state owned.  They may range in size from single passenger vehicles such as motorcycles to large freight vehicles such as triple-trailer trucks.  The transport of freight may include anything from raw materials to finished products.

      Railroads are used to carry freight and passenger trains.  In both cases, the number of railroad cars may vary between destinations.  However, it would not be practical to haul a single car for a long distance , therefore, many cars are usually hauled on each trip.  

Passenger trains are designed to haul passengers, while freight trains are designed to haul materials ranging from raw goods to finished products.

      Air transport is used in the transportation of passengers and freight.  Aircraft used to transport passengers come in many different sizes.  They range from small single passenger aircraft to large jumbo jet aircraft.  Transportation of freight is another area of air transport.  Most common is the express and freight and mail carriers.  Most of this material is carried by local passenger/cargo carriers.  Some military aircraft is used in the transportation of much larger freight.  The materials transported by air may include anything from raw materials to finished products.

      Another mode of transporting passengers and freight is by water.  The transportation of passengers is slow and inconvenient, therefore it is not used very often except for pleasure.  The size of water craft may vary from small single seater jet skis to large cruise ships.  The most common use of water transportation is for freight.  The type of freight moved is usually limited to those classes that are bulky and of low cost per unit volume.

      Pipelines are mainly used to transport oil and oil products or natural gas.  Oil pipelines are divided between gathering lines and trunk lines, while gas pipelines are divided between field lines and trunk lines.

      Each mode must have sufficient funds for building and maintaining the infrastructure.  For the highway system, funds come from several different areas.  The United States highway system is publicly owned, therefore much of the funds are received  from the federal government, however, most of the funds are received from highway user taxes.  Federal highway funds are available for construction and improvement of the federal primary system.  The state is responsible for the upkeep of most primary and secondary roads.  State highway systems may overlap federal systems.  The funds for most state primary systems come from the state, while local and county authorities are responsible for secondary systems.  Local and other systems usually receive funds from the local authorities for maintenance, improvement, and construction.  Toll roads receive funds for upkeep by charging people a small fee to travel on the highway.

      Railroad systems are usually privately owned.  Most railroad systems are built and maintained by the company, but funds are also provided by the federal government.

      The air transportation system obtains much of its funds from federal aid if the facility is owned by local governments (in most cases they are).  The airlines themselves are also responsible for much of the funds required to maintain the facility.  Small general aviation aircraft are usually privately owned and used for recreational purposes, or owned by businesses which do a large amount of traveling.  These facilities are usually paid for by the local area and the users of the airport.

      The construction, maintenance, and operation of waterways is paid for by the federal government since the United States Coast Guard assumes responsibility for the supply and operation of navigational aids.  While the federal government pays for the waterways, most of the vessels are company or privately owned, with the exception of U.S. Coast Guard vessels.  Improvement to ports is usually is usually funded by state or city aid or from borrowing.

      The pipeline transportation system is the only mode of transportation that gets no direct aid from the federal government.  Most of the funds required to construct and maintain the pipelines comes from the company which owns the pipeline.

      Different government agencies from the U.S. Department of Transportation have primary jurisdiction over each mode of transportation.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides funds to states for highway construction, improving, and management.  FWHA also provides funds for several state-administered safety programs.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) focuses on maintaining and improving safety of motor vehicles and equipment and conducts test programs to evaluate and guarantee compliance with the standards.  The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) develops and administers programs to achieve safe operating practices in the industry.  Primary jurisdiction of airways is controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The FAA issues and enforces air safety regulations, develops and operates the airways, and inspects and certifies aircraft.  The United States Coast Guard enforces federal laws regarding navigation, port safety and security, inspection of vessels, and protection of the marine environment.  All construction and safety standards are enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Pipeline transportation is controlled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the Department of Energy.

      Many transportation organizations exist at the state level.  Each state has certain roles in the operation and regulation of the different modes.  States must follow the regulations set by the federal government, but each state can also make its own set of regulations.  An example of this would be the N.C. seatbelt law.  

      The United States transportation system is made up of several different modes of transportation.  Each of these modes are operated and regulated to different degrees by federal, state, and local governments.  All of these modes of transportation give a great deal of mobility for the people and goods and materials of each state. 

4 descriptive essays

The Barn

(a barn as seen to a woman who just received news that her son was hurt in war.  Do not use:  death, war, parent, child etc.)

      I walked out onto the cold, soggy grass and starred at the rotting barn.  The paint, peeling and cracking, needed desperately to be redone.  The door creaked and swayed back and forth aimlessly on it rusted hinges.  The fall leaves crunched as I walked towards the old barn.  Hay mixed with dust spotted the concrete floor and stood in a heap by the corner.  The shutters banged rapidly as the wind picked up.  Light, shown only through the small holes formed by a tireless woodpeckers life work, illuminated an array of farm tools dulled by lack of use.  Dust clung to spider webs up above, pulling them down on the middle.  I began to walk back home as small rain drops clattered on the metal rooftop.

Bottle

(a bottle as seen by a recovering alcoholic.  Do not use:  alcohol, beer,  drink, AA, etc.)

      The patio table stood bare, except for the bottle.  Light shown through the glass, scattering color about.  It's neck curved up to a perfectly rounded mouth.  The once clear label, now browning at the edges, was impenetrable by the incoming morning light.  Fresh dew drops clung to it.  Every once in a while, one would slide slowly, down the curves, to the table.  The array of colors emitted ceased and for a brief moment, as a cloud passed over head, the bottle stood in its own shadow.

Acorn

(An acorn as seen by a starving squirrel in the winter.  Do not use:  hungry, squirrel, food, etc.)

      The snow glistened atop the cold earth.  Blinding light reflected every which way, making the entire yard a hazy white.  Icicles clung, growing with each snow storm, to a tree causing a thin, shiny layer of ice to encase the bark of every branch.  A single acorn sat underneath the bare, drawn in oak.  With its rounded, smooth appearance and deep brown coloring, the acorn stood clearly in view.  It had fallen onto its side, making the stem and criss-cross pattern top indent ever so slightly into the newly fallen snow.  The acorn and tree were the only things that broke the sight of whiteness.

Wedding cake

(as seen by a soon-to-be bride.  Do not use:  wedding, marriage, wife, husband etc.)

      The cake stood on display, rotating on a type of turn table.  Its true white frosting glistened, almost sparkling.  The colors of edible ribbon intertwined, forming thin swirls.  Layer after layer, each smaller than the last, stacked up until only a tiny cake the size of ones hand remained.  Purple and pink frosting, connected by the ribbon, circle the entire display, shrinking as they neared the top.  Sugar, white and in small sand like granules, dusted the dessert.

3 components of the literary school of naturalism in Stephen

In Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat", the American literary school of naturalism is used and three of the eight features are most apparent, making this work, in my opinion, a good example of the school of naturalism. These three of the eight features are determinism, objectivity, and pessimism. They show, some more than others, how Stephen Crane viewed the world and the environment around him.

      Determinism is of course the most obvious of the three features. Throughout the entire story, the reader gets a sense that the fate of  the four main characters, the cook, the oiler, the correspondent, and the captain are totally pre-determined by nature and that they were not their own moral agents. "The little boat, lifted by each towering sea and splashed viciously by the crests, made progress that in the absence of seaweed was not apparent to those in her." The characters had no control over their boat, rather nature was totally in control. "She seemed just a wee thing wallowing, miraculously top up, at the mercy of the five oceans. Occasionally a great spread of water, like white flames, swarmed into her." (pg.145) There is also a sense that man is totally not important to the natural forces controlling his fate. "When it occurs to man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply that there are no bricks and no temples."(pg156) The one character who perishes, the oiler, is of course a victim of determinism. Even as he was so close to land and no longer out in the open sea, nature still takes its role in determining his fate.  

      Objectivity refers to how the author describes reality as it exists, that is, not glorifying something, but rather simply stating the observation. The fact that the narrator is the correspondent in itself give an impression on how the story is going to be told in a more journalistic sense, describing actual events instead of feelings or ideas. " In the meantime the oiler and the correspondent rowed. They sat together in the same seat, and each rowed an oar. Then the oiler took both oars; then the correspondent took both oars; then the oiler; then the correspondent. They rowed and they rowed." (pg144) Writing something repeatedly in the manner Crane does in this passage gives the reader a sense of the repetitiveness and frustration the four main characters faced being lost out at sea.

      Pessimism, in my opinion, is apparent throughout the entire story. Although the four men do have the will to survive, it always seems as if nature is always playing the most important role. " If I am going to be drowned--if I am going to be drowned--if I am going to be drowned, why in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees." This passage is said not once, but twice in the short story, strengthening the fact that a sense of pessimism is present throughout the story while also expressing the anger the characters feel toward the ever present fate of nature.

      The entire story in itself is a portrayal not of the conflict between man and nature, but rather the effect and control nature has on human fate, strengthening the naturalistic ideas and views through this tale of  four stranded men. The fact that the waves, the tides, the freezing water and all the other characteristics of the controlling force are ever present, make, in my opinion, the sea the most important character in "The Open Boat", the four men are just the way in which this is brought through to the reader.

1st american literature essay

I’m here to tell you the differences between the north and the south in the late 1600’s, early 1700’s.  There were many differences between each side of America.  The people were brought in from the same place, but had different views.  The north was the first part of America that was founded up in New England.  I’m going to now tell you the history about each side of America, and how life was for the puritans and cavaliers.  By comparing and contrasting hopefully I can show you that both sides were different in many ways.

            The north was first colonies of America founded.  The people who occupied this space were known as puritans.  The puritans are also known as pilgrims, that is what we refer to them as now.  Puritans were settlers from England who didn’t believe in the Church of England.  They had there own views on life, they didn’t want to do exactly as England did.  They disagreed with the Church of England.  After finding America, they needed a place to settle.  They decided to settle in Cape Cod, which was then called the Plymouth Colony.  The needed a leader, the elected William Bradford the governor of the Plymouth Colony.  Bradford was a non-conformist, which meant he didn’t want to follow the Church of England; he was perfect for the job in many ways.  The city on the hill is what they named the town.  Everything they did was based on what scripture said.  The first winter for the puritan people were hard.  They didn’t expect what happened.  It was cold, and they had no food, and little shelter.  Many of the people died that year because of the conditions.  The Plymouth colony began to grow, but many of the people decided to leave and headed towards Boston. 

           

            The south and north were similar in many ways.  The north and south were both populated by settlers from England.  Both sides were there for different reasons.  The puritans were there because they didn’t agree with the Church of England.  The cavaliers were there as a reward.  The south had better life for the people.  They had many ways of making good money. They had a lot of fertile land, which was great for farming.  In the north there was little farming because of the rocky land.

            The cavaliers came to America in 1660.  They came as a reward from the king of England.  The cavaliers were the opposite of the puritans.  They believed in the Church of England. The king (from the church of England) gave them the land in 1660.  They received a lot of land in the southeast colonies. A lot of the English people, who were living in the south, got their education in England before they came to America.  Most of them were renaissance people.  The climate in the south was much easier for the people, because they had much better winter conditions than up north. 

            I believe that the cavaliers had a much easier journey to America.  They settled in a much better area also.  They had a lot healthier farming conditions, and the king gave them a great deal of land.  The climate was much different in the south it was warm year round.  In the north people were dieing because of the cold conditions.  I think the puritans should have moved down south and settled in a much better area, were they would better chances at life and jobs. 

Henry IV Appearance vs Reality

Shakespeare's play Henry IV begins with a king (King Henry) beginning a pilgrimage after killing King Richard II.  Henry  believes that by gaining the throne of England he has done an honourable deed, yet he admits that the fighting and bloodshed could continue, A. . .   ill sheathed knife . . . @ (I.1.17).  He, also, admits  that his own son, Prince Hal,  is not honorable enough to occupy the throne, Asee riot and dishonour stain the brow of my young Harry"  (I.1.17).

Shakespeare continues the topos of honour and redemption into Act three, scene two, where he uses elements such as anaphora, topos, imagery and rhetoric in a meeting between King Henry and Prince Hal that is both  crucial and  climatic to the overall structure of the theme of honour.

At the beginning of Act III  sc. ii,  Shakespeare clears all other characters from the stage to allow King Henry=s first meeting, face to face with Prince Hal, to be focused and intense.  King Henry is the first to speak and sets a sombre tone as he begins to unmask himself to his son A. . .  some displeasing service I have done @  (3.2.5).   As well Shakespeare allows King Henry to bring Prince Hal=s mask to attention by using anaphora:

Could such inordinate and low desires,

Such poor, such bare, such lewd, such

mean attempt, such barren pleasures,

rude society as there art matched withal . . . (3.2.12-15).

 The word such is used to emphasise his [Henry]  displeasure of Hal=s friends and the image they  portray around him causing Hal in the eyes of Henry to lose his princely image.

Shakespeare, then allows Prince Hal to defend himself to his father's interpretations of his (Hal) character.  Again, there is a contrast between what King Henry perceives and what is reality.  The king is obviously distressed over Hal=s choice of friends  and how they affect this  'Princely image'.   Hal  on the other hand asks for Apardon on my true submission @ (3.2.27), claiming that such people (friends) tell stories that may not always be true Aaft the ear of greatness must hear @ (3.2.24).

It seems that King Henry still has some reservations about Prince Hal=s 'appearance' and how that effects his (Hal=s) place on the throne; which may be some what ironic coming from a king that truly bases popularity, Aopinion that did help me to the crown @ (3.2.42), on public opinion though a rebellion is organising  around him.

During the King=s speech to Hal, Shakespeare employs many elements of style to review and parallel King Henry=s mask to Prince Hal=s appearance and foreshadow a possible outcome for Prince Hal, A. . . prophetically do forethink thy fall @ (3.2.38).  By using the imagery of a comment Shakespeare is trying to impress on Prince Hal that in the eye of the public Alike a comet I [he] was wondered at "  (3.2.47).  King Henry had to  keep himself Afresh and new, my presence like a robe pontifical @ (3.2.55-56), while in public.  In contrast Shakespeare uses the image of a A cuckoo in June @ to show that Prince Hal is  Aheard, not regarded, seen, but with such eyes, as sick and blunted with community @ (3.2.76-77).

As Prince Hal answers,  Shakespeare reminds the reader that the intention of this meeting is reconciliation of both King Henry and Prince Hal.  In act one, King Henry states AI will from henceforth rather be myself @ (1.3.5).  To parallel the king=s remarks Shakespeare has Hal repeat the same idea AI shall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord, be more myself (3.2.92-93). 

Though there is a saying that Athe eyes are windows into a man=s soul@ Shakespeare uses the rhetoric of A eyes @ and A sight @ to be negative in that it is what the eyes of other people see that makes a person honourable.  Some examples of this rhetoric used by Shakespeare are: Aafford no extraordinary gaze . . . admiring eyes . . . eyelids down @ (3.2.78,80,81), indicating that through these public eyes Prince Hal does not demand the respect needed to be as successful a king as King Henry believes he himself is.  Then, Shakespeare uses A sight @ in the same passage to give insight to the  'mask' Henry wears that must make him blind:

. . . save mine, which hath desired to see thee more,

which now doth that I would not have it do,

make blind itself with foolish tenderness.  (3.2.89-91)

  Again Shakespeare is using this act to play out the King=s idea of how his son Hal appear to be less honourable than Hotspur, but, will put aside his honourable mask  towards some of the misdoing by his son for the sake of saving his (Hal=s) princely image.

Another aspect of Shakespeare's style is the long passages at the end of each scene that are, usually,  given to the main (or most important) figure on stage at the time.  In this scene, however, much of what King Henry is saying to Prince Hal is contained in a long passage.  Although these passages by the king are not at the end of the scene, but, contained within the scene it could be that Shakespeare wants to show that the king is indeed an important character until Hal begins his own pilgrimage of reconciliation.  As well these long passages give King Henry a chance to repeat and parallel a large amount of information to Prince Hal.

In his last long speech to Hal, King Henry repeats his disfavour in his son=s ability to be king stating that Ahe (Hotspur) bath more worthy interest to the state than thou the shadow of succession@ (3.2.98-99).   Also King Henry uses this opportunity to explain what he thinks are the honourable qualities he feels Hotspur has over Prince Hal:

Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on

To bloody battles and to bruising arms.

What never-dying honour hath he got

Against renowned Douglas  ( 3.2.104-107)!

Finally, Shakespeare allows Prince Hal to answer to all the allegations presented by King Henry.  One element of Shakespeare's style here is the long passage which denotes Prince Hal as an important character gaining respect from the king.  First Hal tells King Henry that AGod forgive them that so much have swayed Your Majesty's good thought away from me @ (3.2.130-131).  Hal then goes on to say that he wants to announce his right to be king as the son of King Henry by proving his honour and loyalty to the king though the only honourable thing left to Aredeem all this on Percy=s head@ (3.2.133).

This last passage summarises Prince Hal=s feelings that up until now he has been seen through a mask unworthy of his father=s honour.  Like the king before him Hal wishes to cast off this mask and earn respect through the forth coming rebellion; much as did King Henry gain respect and honour by going into battle with Richard II.

In conclusion, Shakespeare uses elements of style such as topos, and anaphora, as well as imagery and rhetoric to parallel and contrast King Henry=s honour with Hal=s perceived lack of honour.  This scene in act three is a critical moment between a father and son set up by Shakespeare to enable both character to Acast off@ their masks and show the reality of their true selves and asks the question of whether honour is truly what we say it is.

      Works Cited

Shakespeare, William.   1Henry IV.  In The Norten Anthology of English Literature.                       

Eds.  M.H. Abrams et all.  5th Ed.

New York: Norton, 1987.  Pg.  505-574