Non-Fiction Critical Analysis

             The article, “Should Colleges Stop Requiring the SAT/ACT?” by William C. Hiss and Wayne Camera, explains the pros and cons of having the SAT/ACTs. Hiss explains how it would be better to not have the tests because high school grades are a better predictor of college success. On the other hand, Camera explains how the standards are different at certain schools, so it would be hard for the admissions office to choose from the grades. Although William C. Hiss has good evidence as well, I agree with Wayne Camera, I think that they should keep the SATs and ACTs.

                One reason why I agree with Wayne Camera is because there are more than 35,000 public and private high schools in the U.S with huge variations, it would be impossible for the college admissions offices to be familiar with them all. Adding on, the standards for an A at one school can be different as opposed to others, which is not fair for most kids. Another example how, according to Camera, “some schools do not offer advanced placement or honor classes, which give students a chance to impress colleges. For students without these options, standardized test scores can be another way to prove themselves.” Thus helping students who wouldn’t have a chance to prove to the colleges that they are worthy enough. Furthermore, when William C. Hiss stated, “ High school grades, not test scores, are the best predictor of college success,” I did not agree with him because some students cheat on tests that were given to them in school, which made their grades better than what it should’ve been. Taking the SATs and ACTs would show the students’ true potential, and whether or not they are acceptable. Overall, I think that college standardized testing should continue because it would be extremely easier and reasonable.  

                In conclusion, I think that colleges should keep the SATs and ACTs because they are very helpful. Moreover, I thought this article was very interesting because I am planning to take the SATs in the future. In sum, colleges should keep standardized testing because it is easier and more reasonable.

Romeo and Juliet Literary Essay

                In the play, “Romeo and Juliet” written by Shakespeare, is about two young teenagers falling in love. One is named Juliet, whom is thirteen, is from the Capulet family. On the other hand, Romeo is sixteen, and is a part of the Montague family, which is the enemy of the Capulet’s.  They met at a party that Juliet’s dad had set up, it was love at first sight. They soon became so in love that they secretly got married at Friar Lawrence’s church. However, they didn’t see that Juliet’s parents had already set her up an arranged marriage with a young man named Paris. Thus, many complications occurred, leading people to do unspeakable things, including both, Romeo and Juliet, to commit suicide. Throughout this play, the themes, guilt, consequences, and hope had occurred numerous times.

                One theme that occurred throughout the play was guilt. As I said before, many problems happened, thus, causing many people to do regretful things. One example is when Tybalt killed Mercutio, he felt guilty after because it soon got him killed.  Adding on, Romeo also felt remorseful because he killed Tybalt, which got him banished from Verona. He also felt guilty because he couldn’t see Juliet anymore, “'Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here, where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog and little mouse, every unworthy thing, live here in heaven and may look on her, but Romeo may not. More validity, more honorable state, more courtship lives in carrion flies than Romeo. They may seize on the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand and steal immortal blessing from her lips, who even in pure and vestal modesty, still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin. But Romeo may not. He is banished. Flies may do this, but I from this must fly. They are free men, but I am banished. And sayst thou yet that exile is not death? Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, no sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean, but “banished” to kill me?—“Banished”! O Friar, the damned use that word in hell. Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart, being a divine, a ghostly confessor, a sin-absolver, and my friend professed, to mangle me with that word “banished”?”(3, 3, 30-52). Another example is when Friar Lawrence made the plan, (which was for Juliet to drink a liquid that made her sleep for hours so that people will think she is dead, in result, she wouldn’t have to marry Paris) he soon remorseful it after, “And if aught in this miscarried by my fault, let my old life be sacrificed some hour before his time unto the rigor of severest law,” (5, 3, 281-284) meaning that he knows that it is his fault so he should be punished. Furthermore, Juliet felt guilty for agreeing to his plan because it caused Romeo to kill himself, as well as Paris. Overall, the theme guilt plays a huge role in the play.

                In result to all of those events, the theme, consequences had arose. For example, when Tybalt killed Mercutio, the consequence was Romeo killing him. Therefore, the Prince announced, “And for that offence immediately we do exile him hence. I have an interest in your hearts' proceeding. My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding. But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine that you shall all repent the loss of mine. I will be deaf to pleading and excuses. Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses, therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, else, when he’s found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will. Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill,” (3, 1, 148-149) meaning that Romeo is now banished from Verona, which made him leave Juliet. Another example is when Friar Lawrence made the plan and when Juliet agreed to it, the result of both of these actions was Romeo, herself, and even Paris’ death.  It also resulted in the Prince publicizing, “Their course of love, the tidings of her death. And here he writes that he did buy a poison of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. Where be these enemies?—Capulet! Montague! See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords, too have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished,” (5, 3, 308-312), meaning that everyone is punished. All in all, many of the events that were caused by guilt formed many consequences throughout the play.

                Lastly, the theme hope had also occurred in the play. An example of this is when Romeo and Juliet hoped for their marriage to work out well, they kept trying and trying to make it work out by trying many different things. One thing they tried was only letting Romeo go to Juliet’s house at night, so her parents wouldn’t catch him. Another example is when Juliet was always hoping for Romeo to be safe, she hoped that nothing bad would happen to him when he got banished. Adding on, she was relieved when she found out that Tybalt was dead, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, when I, thy three hours' wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband. Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring. Your tributary drops belong to woe, which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, and Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?  Because he wanted to kill Romeo before,” (3, 2, 106-109). Juliet also hoped that her marriage to Paris would be cancelled, “O God!—O Nurse, how shall this be prevented? My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven. How shall that faith return again to earth, unless that husband send it me from heaven by leaving earth? Comfort me. Counsel me.—Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems upon so soft a subject as myself. What sayst thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? Some comfort, Nurse,” (3, 5, 205-214). Another example of hope used in this play was when Juliet was hoping that Friar Lawrence’s plans will work, before she drank the liquid he had given her she kept praying that it would work because she really didn’t want to marry Paris. In sum, the theme hope occurred many times throughout the play.

                In conclusion, in the play, “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare, three themes were shown, guilt, consequences, and hope. In fact, guilt and consequence connect to each other because whatever the guilt caused the people do had formed consequences. All in all, the three themes, guilt, consequence, and hope occur countless times throughout the play.

"Locomotion" By Jacqueline Woodson

                 I am currently reading the book, “Locomotion”, by Jacqueline Woodson. This book is about an eleven year old boy named Locomotion, but most people call him Lonnie. He writes in this book, only poetry, because it sometimes makes him feel better about certain things going on in his life. Locomotion lost his parents to a fire and his little sister, Lili, had been taken by different parents in foster care. However, I think that all of these problems are way too stressful for such a little boy.

                Lonnie has been through a lot throughout his life. One thing that he had to deal with was losing his parents, which was really hard because it caused so many other problems to come up. For example, after the fire was over, neighbors took both Locomotion and Lili in to take care of them for as long as they could. However, soon, the neighbors couldn’t take care of them anymore, thus, they were sent to foster care. When they finally got people to adopt them, they got separated because they had different foster parents. In addition, Lonnie doesn’t like his foster mom because she always tells him to be quiet. He also doesn’t like Lili’s foster mom because she won’t let Locomotion come to visit Lili, in result, they had to meet somewhere else. Another example is having to deal with his friend Eric being sick. Eric has the sickle-cell anemia, which could be deadly after a long period of having the disease. All in all, Lonnie has a lot of problems/issues to deal with at such a young age.

                In conclusion, Lonnie has a lot to deal with throughout his life, like trying to visit his sister and trying to forget seeing the fire. Moreover, he has to deal with not only family problems, but also school problems, like trying to fit in and has to deal with Eric have a deadly disease.