Chocolate

Author's Note: I wrote this persuasive piece telling the reader why they should eat chocolate. My focus is sentence fluency.

Did you know that chocolate can be good for you? Studies have proven that small amounts of dark chocolate can keep your heart healthy. Cocoa contains antioxidants that help prevent some diseases. Chocolate is not only good for you but it is good to eat, too. This makes chocolate one of the most famous candies on the planet.

Chocolate comes in so many different forms. Today, America's top selling chocolate is the Snicker's bar. It consists of peanuts carmel, and milk chocolate. If you don't like peanuts, then you could try M&M's. Small pieces of colored milk or dark chocolate. So many varieties make chocolate easy to love. My favorite kind of chocolate would be the Reece's Peanut Butter Cups. These are made of milk chocolate

If you want chocolate that is healthy for you, try to find one with more cocoa. The more cocoa there is in the chocolate, the less sugar there can be. Also, there are more antioxidents in chocolate then almost any other food. It's nice to know that when you are eating one of your favorite treats, it can also be healthy if eaten properly.

The reason why some people don't like chocolate is because of it's sugar content. Even though the typical amount of sugar in chocolate can be high, it is lower then other foods. I think that as long as chocolate, along with every other food is eaten in proportion it can be a healthty snack. One of my favorite shows, the Biggest Loser, focuses on this. The point of the show is to lose weight. But, the trainers also give the contestants tips on how to stay fit at home. All of them really want the contestants to get that once in awhile you can still have your favorite snack as long as it's eaten in proportion.

"Chocolate." Veronika Love. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2006. <www.veronikalove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/chocolate.jpg>.

"Types of Chocolate - Facts About Chocolate." Facts About Chocolate - Everything about Chocolate. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/types-of-chocolate.html>.

Life

Author's Note: In my lit. group, we are reading the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. The main character,  in the book has just died and is in the after life. I decided to write a free verse poem on why we should enjoy life.

Cherishing the time that's spent,
with everyone around you,
enjoying life,
while you are still fortunate,
to have it,
So live it up,
treat everyday as if it were your last,
Because, you never know,
One day,
It will be.

Soul Surfer

Author's Note: I wrote the rough draft of this piece while I was Up North. My sister has watched the movie, "Soul Surfer" one thousand times, so I decided to write about it. My focus is word choice.

At the age of thirteen, Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a shark. The young surfer lost an arm. But this didn't stop Bethany. She worked every day to get back into shape, and used to surfing with one arm. It paid off. Bethany has won many awards for her amazing comeback. Not only did she continue surfing, but her story continues to inspire others.

Do you know a person like Bethany? Somebody who's had a major accident or event occur in their life, but continues to persevere? My friend Kylee is a perfect example. Kylee is a very skilled gymnast. Just recently, eight year old Kylee found out that she broke her foot. The injury happened right before competition season. Although she couldn't do her full routine, Kylee worked hard to stay in shape until her foot had healed.

People like Kylee and Bethany continue to influence people today. Both suffering from major pains in their lives, but still they continue to work hard at their goals. If you go through an obstacle at achieving your goal, use stories like these to motivate you to keep going.


"Bethany Hamilton - Shark Attack Survivor and Surfer - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Bethany-Hamilton-Shark-Attack-Survivor-and-Surfer>. 

Fall

Author's Note: I just got back from an amazing trip Up North. It's right around Halloween so everyone is dressed up. I decided to do a Haiku on Fall. My focus is voice. 

Leaves always dropping,

Halloween and Thanksgiving,

The beauty of Fall

"Bob Atkins - Digital Photography - Camera Reviews - Lens Tests - Canon EOS FAQ - Nature - Wildlife - Gallery." Bob Atkins - Digital Photography - Camera Reviews - Lens Tests - Canon EOS FAQ - Nature - Wildlife - Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://bobatkins.com>.

Scarlett O'Hara

Author's Note: I just finished reading the book: Gone With the Wind. This piece is about the main character Scarlett and how she is ignored by her "friends". I focused on sentence fluency in this piece. 

Have you ever felt that you just don't fit in? That no matter how hard you try, you just aren't accepted by society. Maybe you are bullied because of it. If this is you, then you know exactly how Scarlett O'Hara felt. She didn't have the same political views as the other families in Georgia. She was ignored because of it. Bullying is a selfish way to hurt somebody, both emotionally and physically.


Scarlett is good friends with Rhett Butler. Rhett is the only person who truly understands Scarlett. This is the reason why she likes him. Unfortunately, Rhett is an outcast as well. This makes the problem with her friends grow worse. After they get married, they are both completely ignored. That is, until Melanie hears about what's been going on. Scarlett never liked Melanie, but she sticks up for Scarlett anyways. 

Ignoring someone is a mean way to bully them. It is very effective. The person bullied can be hurt by it. This was the case with Scarlett. No matter how hard she tried, her friends would never accept her for who she was. The only person who never left her side was Melanie. She was also the one to get the bullying to stop.

On average, 70% of kids are bullied some time in their life. If more people became like Melanie, the bullying would decrease. All she did was make people think about what they were doing, and they stopped. If you see someone being bullied, stand up for them. Even if the bullying doesn't stop, it would be nice to know that someone is there for you.

"CyberMentors is a Beatbullying project - How many people are affected by bullying?." CyberMentors is a Beatbullying project - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://cybermentors.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=40>.

Technology

Author's Note: I came up with this topic by doing a word association. It's a persuasive piece on laptops at our school and how they are useful.

Everyday, people use technology.  Whether it is used for work, school, or pleasure, technology can come in very handy. For example if cell phones weren't invented, if you were in an emergency situation away from a town you wouldn't be able to call for help. Technology was made to help make life easier. It has. Without, many new devices, we would not be where we are today.

At the Pewaukee School District, middle school and high school students are all very lucky. Everyone has their own laptops. Students can use these when working on projects, math, or researching different information. They can also be used to email teachers or other students for help.  But, as useful as the laptops are, there are some negative aspects about them.

Students can often be caught playing games on their laptops. This can be negative because likely, the teacher won't catch them. This could encourage the student to play more often. Also, cyber bullying is a possibility. Although it may not happen as much in the Pewaukee Schools it's always possible. Students could receive hurtful emails, or even have their computer hacked. For these reasons, laptops may not be the best idea.

I think that in the Pewaukee School District that more likely then not, laptops are used appropriately.  The technology department does a good job blocking harmful sites, and pictures. Also, most students are respectful to others, and their laptops. I think that the Pewaukee School District is very blessed to have this opportunity.

Survival

Author's Note: I started this piece while I was at the Milwaukee Public Museum, in the Rainforest exhibit. I focused on voice in this piece.

Fear of what will happen next

Scared of the world around you

Running,

Chasing,

Hiding,

Insecure in your home

Never having enough to eat

Looking, but finding none

Hunting,

Nothing,

Starving,

Always hungry

All alone all the time

Nowhere to go

Waiting,

Crying,

Hurting,

Left to die, by yourself

Then you look up

You see the sun

Hoping,

Praying,

Wishing,

A friend is there