Nothing Like Us

The song Nothing Like Us written and sung by Justin Bieber, is both very deep and personal. Although it only came out today, you can tell it is about his recent break up with Selena Gomez. His message is very clear, and he uses many techniques to portray it. Including the lyrics and the way he sings the song. I think that lots of people can relate to the song as well.

The message of the song is that he and Selena were perfect for each other and how he is confused why they broke up. He expresses the message through really strong lyrics. The chorus of the song goes, "There's nothing like us, there's nothing like you and me through the storm." This made me think that maybe this part was just him trying to show how he felt about there relationship. The lyrics that I think really sums up the message throughout the story is, "I gave you everything, baby, everything I had. Girl, why did you have to push me away? Lost in confusion, like an illusion. You know I'm used to making your day." The line really sums up the entire message of the story. When he says, "I gave you everything, baby, everything I had to give. Girl, why did you have to push me away?" It was like him saying that he tried as hard as he could and he doesn't understand why she felt they needed to break up. The line where he says, "Lost in confusion, like an illusion." That is him portraying his confusion throughout the entire break up. When he compares confusion to an illusion, it seems to me like he is saying that the whole thing seems unreal. As if it isn't really happening.

Another thing Justin does to portray his message is the way he sings the song, and the accompaniment. Justin put this song on his album Believe Acoustic, as a bonus track. So, on the record Justin is accompanied by only a piano. He also sings the song very naturally, with no auto sung notes, just purely him. Using this technique he makes the song really deep and personal. It's really emotional and compelling, you can practically here the pain in his voice. Also, this makes it feel like Justin is in the room singing it live in front of you, which helps make it relatable to fans.

This song can be relatable to many people as well. Anyone who has been broken up with can relate to it, Obviously. But, also anyone who had a friendship that ended. I know from experience that it's hard when someone who you thought was your friend, leaves you alone in the dark. I'm sure many fans have dealt with similar experiences as well, whether it be a friendship or relationship that ended.

In conclusion, that is why Justin Bieber's song Nothing Like You is the most amazing song EVER! It has a clear message that is deep, emotional, and compelling. He used strong lyrics and acoustic singing to help portray the message and make it more personal. It is also a song that many people can relate to. I think that whether you are a fan of Justin Bieber or not, it's hard not to like this song.

Non-Fiction Article Revised

In the article, Unsafe Behind the Wheel by Kate Zernike, there is evidence that teenagers are at a high risk of getting in a car accident. States are enforcing stricter rules for teen drivers under ager 21. According to the article, "44 states have prohibited teenagers from driving with more than one other teen." Other states have set aside a curfew for them, saying that they can't drive between certain hours. Also, many states are increasing the age of which you can get your drivers license. Other people, such as Jeffrey Nadel, President of the National Youth Rights Association, are against the teen driving limitations. A report from the American Medical Association states that restrictions against teen drivers may lead to fatal accidents later in life, because they didn't get enough driving experience when they were younger. The article also says that texting and driving is a big reason why states are setting such restrictions on young drivers. Studies show that teens have trouble multi tasking, which could potentially get them into trouble when they are trying to drive and text, listen to the radio, etc.

 The author wanted us to think that teen drivers should be restricted. This is simply because at least seventy percent of the article was why teens driving privileges are being limited. For the most part, she did a very good job of being unbiased, however, if you studied the article carefully you could see a little bit of her opinion portrayed in the article. The author shows her opinion by using a lot of strong statistics. For example she clearly states, "Distracted driving was a factor in at least 3,000 deaths in 2010." She used quotes like these to scare readers into thinking that teens should be restricted from driving because it would likely decrease the number of car accidents. Another strategy that she used was that she took quotes from all different type of people to try and get a wide variety of opinions. She took quotes from scientists, leaders of associations, parents, even teens! This helped better show her opinion by making it seem like practically everyone agreed with her and congress.

Personally, I think that young drivers should not have different laws and restrictions than adults. I think that states are being unfair, instead of restricting teen drivers from driving, why not try to strongly enforce the law of no texting while driving. Increasing the driving age will only cause more accidents when teens get older. Also, the problem of texting while driving doesn't just occur for teens, it's a problem for all ages. What the article so cleverly leaves out is that not once does it specifically say that many car accidents have happened because teens were texting and driving. Nor does it ever say that teens were involved in 3,000 deaths in 2010, where distracted driving was involved. This shows that states are limiting young drivers privileges for basically no reason at all. Reading this article has helped me realize how our government isn't respecting the rights of teens and their driving privileges. Lastly, I would like to know more about how old these people are who have gotten into accidents while texting and driving.

In conclusion, the article I read is about teens driving privileges being restricted to try to decrease the amount of car accidents that happen. The author does a good job of expressing her opinion by using strong statistics that scare people into agreeing with her. She also using a wide variety of the type of people she quotes. However, the author failed to persuade me to agree with her opinion that, teen driver's privileges should be limited. I think that states are being unfair by limiting the rights of young drivers.

Citation:  Zernike, Kate. "Unsafe Behind The Wheel? With Car Crashes The Leading Cause of Death For Teenagers, States Are Placing Greater Restrictions on Young Drivers." New York Times Upfront Magezine 8 Oct. 2012: n. pag. Print.

Restricting Privileges of Young Drivers: Yes or No?

In the article, Unsafe Behind the Wheel by Kate Zernike, there is evidence that teenagers are at a high risk of getting in a car accident. States are enforcing stricter rules for teen drivers under ager 21. According to the article, "44 states have prohibited teenagers from driving with more than one other teen." Other states have set aside a curfew for them, saying that they can't drive between certain hours. Also, many states are increasing the age of which you can get your drivers license. Other people, such as Jeffrey Nadel, President of the National Youth Rights Association, are against the teen driving limitations. A report from the American Medical Association states that restrictions against teen drivers may lead to fatal accidents later in life, because they didn't get enough driving experience when they were younger. The article also says that texting and driving is a big reason why states are setting such restrictions on young drivers. Studies show that teens have trouble multi tasking, which could potentially get them into trouble when they are trying to drive and text, listen to the radio, etc.

 I think that the author wanted us to think that teen drivers should be restricted. This is simply because at least seventy percent of the article was why teens driving privileges are being limited. For the most part, she did a very good job of saying unbiased, however, if you studied the article carefully you could see a little bit of her opinion portrayed in the article. The author shows her opinion by using a lot of strong statistics. For example she clearly states, "Distracted driving was a factor in at least 3,000 deaths in 2010." She used quotes like these to scare readers into thinking that teens should be restricted from driving because it would likely decrease the number of car accidents. Another strategy that she used was that she took quotes from all different type of people to try and get a wide variety of opinions. She took quotes from scientists, leaders of associations, parents, even teens! This helped better show her opinion by making it seem like practically everyone agreed with her and congress, although I found that deceiving.

Personally, I think that young drivers should not have different laws and restrictions than adults. I think that states are being unfair, instead of restricting teen drivers from driving, why not try to strongly enforce the law of no texting while driving. Increasing the driving age will only cause more accidents when teens get older. Also, the problem of texting while driving doesn't just occur for teens, it's a problem for all ages. What the article so cleverly leaves out is that not once does it specifically say that many car accidents have happened because teens were texting and driving. Nor does it ever say that teens were involved in 3,000 deaths in 2010, where distracted driving was involved. This shows that states are limiting young drivers privileges for basically no reason at all. Reading this article has helped me realize how our government isn't respecting the rights of teens and their driving privileges. Lastly, I would like to know more about how old these people are who have gotten into accidents while texting and driving.

In conclusion, the article I read is about teens driving privileges being restricted to try to decrease the amount of car accidents that happen. The author does a good job of expressing her opinion by using strong statistics that scare people into agreeing with her. She also using a wide variety of the type of people she quotes. However, the author failed to persuade me to agree with her opinion that, teen driver's privileges should be limited. I think that states are being unfair by limiting the rights of young drivers.

The Pressures of School

In the story It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, the main character, Craig, suffers from depression. In middle school, Craig is one of the smartest kids in school. After getting into his dream school, Executive Pre-Proffessional High School,  he realizes he's not as amazing as all the other kids. The pressures of the school get so hard that eventually he almost tries to kill himself. This action causes himself to be checked into a mental hospital, where he can finally take the time to think about where all the stress is coming from. I think that the pressures of school got so great, and that was the reason Craig tried to kill himself.

I think that the pressures of school got so great, and that is what drove Craig to try to kill himself. For example, Craig was always talking about how much homework he had, and how much work. He would say that he would go home, do homework, study, try to eat, and then try to sleep. Also, a problem was that the teachers weren't being very supportive. Craig got an eighty five on a test. Instead, of the teacher trying to help him, the teacher put a frowny face on the test. I think that if maybe the teachers had instead of criticizing Craig, they had supported and helped him, maybe he wouldn't have tried to kill himself.

Another pressure of school, was peer pressure. For example, all his friends were smoking pot. So, Craig started smoking it. I think that if he hadn't been pressured into smoking, he wouldn't have started smoking pot in the first place. Also, maybe not smoking the marijuana, Craig wouldn't have been so seriously depressed. He was also jealous of his best friend because he was dating the girl Craig liked, Nia. Obviously, you can't expect Craig's best friend to stop dating Nia, to stop Craig from being so depressed, but the jealousy was probably a key factor in trying to kill himself.

Personally, I can relate to the pressures of school. I can relate to having lots of homework, cramming for a test, etc. In the past, I have had teachers that I felt like they chastised and criticized  me, instead of tried to help me do bet. Or worse, I felt like they just ignored me. I can also relate to peer pressure. In the past I have felt like I've had to look or act a certain way to fit in. This is similar to the way Craig felt like he had to smoke pot in order to fit in. Of course, none of these pressures have ever been so great that I'd think about killing himself. But, for someone who is depressed, I can understand how these pressure may drive yourself to think these thoughts.

In conclusion, that is why I think Craig tried to kill himself. The pressures of school got to hard for him, and that's what drove him to almost kill himself. I can personally relate to pressures from teachers and peers. I think that if Craig hadn't felt this stress, he wouldn't have tried to kill himself. But, at least he when he was checked into the hospital, he was able to get the help he needed and find the source of his stress.

Crazy, but Relatable

After finishing reading The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard, I noticed how deep and intriguing the characters in the story are. The main character, Juliet, used to be rich but after a scandal involving her father, she was forced onto the streets. She finds out that her father has had a secret laboratory on an island near Australia, and she goes to meet him. There she learns that he's been using vivisection to turn animals into deformed humans. In the process she finds herself in a "love triangle" of some sort, with the old servant Montgomery, and the fugitive Edward. I found that some of the characters did some surprising and in some ways crazy things, but I found myself able to relate to them as well.

Some actions that characters did were surprising but at the same time I could relate to them. For example, in the end of the story, the Island is on fire and ll the creatures are being destroyed. Juliet and Montgomery are escaping on a boat, but at the last minute Montgomery leaves Juliet sailing away from the island on the boat, and he stayed on the island. My first thought was, "No you idiot! Get away from this creepy island and escape!" But, as I thought more about what Montgomery did, I realized that I could understand why he stayed on the island. Unlike Juliet, Montgomery had grown up on the island. He even helped create some of the creatures. It must be hard to leave the only thing you've ever really loved. Despite his crush on Juliet, his love and deep interest for the creatures must have been stronger than a little crush. I think that I can understand how caring for something so much that you'd rather die then part from it. However, I think that if I ever did feel that way about something it'd be towards a human, but perhaps since Montgomery grew up on the island the creatures were the only things close to humans.

Another person's action that surprised me was that at one point Juliet risked her life to save her father. Her father had basically abandoned her after the scandal, and when they were reunited once again his love for her wasn't close to as strong as his addiction to his experiment and precious creatures. I honestly wasn't sure if this man was capable of feeling love. But, as I thought more about it, I realized I could understand why Juliet did try to save her father. Although this man had been cruel and was pretty much insane, he was still her father, still her family. Not all her memories of him were bad. even if he wasn't capable of loving her, she can't hide the fact that she still cares about him. If my father was burning on an island full of a bunch of half human- half animal creatures I'd try to save him, whether he was crazy or not.

In conclusion I liked this story because the characters weren't just black and white, or good or bad. They all had flaws and they all had a dark side. Some of their actions surprised me, but, at the same time I could relate to them.

Betraying the Ones You Love

After reading the second book in the "Glow" series, Spark, by Amy Kathleen Ryan, I've come to realize the internal and external conflict the main character, Waverly, is going through. In the story, Earth has been so polluted that everyone left. There are two spaceships taking everyone to New Earth, it is an 80 year journey, and at the time of the story it has been 40 years.

The external conflict is that the opposite spaceship, the New Horizon, has taken all the parents on the Empyrean. Waverly and the kids have to get them back. I don't think that Waverly handled the situation well because she acted arrogantly and she was so caught up in saving her mother she made a reckless attempt to save them. For example, if she had listened to the newly elected captain of the ship, Kieran, who was also by then her ex boyfriend, she would of realized that his idea of negotiating with the New Horizon would have worked well. Kieran had already set up plans with the captain of the ship, and if it wasn't for Waverly, the treaty probably would have been done. Waverly should have thought things through before making a rash and immature solution.

The Internal conflict was that her boyfriend, Kieran, was turning into someone that Waverly didn't like. The pressures of being captain of the Empyrean made Kieran harsh and tough. I think Waverly handled this situation poorly because she ended up betraying him. For example, Waverly doesn't like that Kieran had starting having church services every Sunday because it reminded her of the captain on the New Horizon. I think that Waverly should have told Kieran why she was upset, but instead she went to  visit Seth, Kieran's mortal enemy, in jail. She started plotting ways to overthrow him. I can relate to someone you thought you knew change into someone you don't like, but if I were in her situation I would try to confront the person first. The last thing I would do betray the person.

This also makes me wonder how strong their love really was. If a stupid argument was enough to end an engagement, then was their love for each other real or was it just the pressures of the rest of the ship?   Waverly was so quick to betray him and he was so quick to break up with her, then my guess is that they didn't actually love each other they just felt like everyone expected them to marry because they were the two first born on the ship.

In conclusion, Waverly handled both the internal and external conflict poorly. I think that Waverly needs to learn to think through her decisions and not act recklessly. This can also go for the internal conflict too because if she had thought through her decision to talk to Seth than maybe they wouldn't have broken up in the first place. Also, perhaps Waverly and Kieran's relationship wasn't true love, it was just the pressures of the people on the ship wanting them to get married.

Good At Something

The picture book Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwarts, is about a little girl who is just starting kindergarten. Her older sister teaches her about what they learn in kindergarten. Annabelle soon realizes that her sister was wrong, and starts to feel stupid, like she can't do anything. I think that the theme of the story is that everyone is good at something. This story can easily appeal to children because the message is clear.

The theme of the story is that everyone is good at something. At the beginning of the story Annabelle thinks she is stupid but by the end she realizes that is not true. She realizes she is really good at math and counting. She even gets to count everyone's lunch money and get the snacks for them. That's why the theme of the story is that everyone is good at something.

I can see why this story would appeal to little kids. The message of the story is clear. It teaches kids that everyone is special in their own way. Kids who are just starting school can also relate to it. It can ease their nerves on starting school. I remember my mom read it to me right before I started kindergarten and it really helped me be less nervous. That is why I can see why this story would appeal to kids.

In conclusion, the message of the story is that everyone is good at something. This story can appeal to kids because the message is clear and kids can relate to it. It also helps calm their nerves about starting school.