Caged bird essays

Caged bird essays Why would the autobiography of one of the most influential female writers of our time end up on a list of the most frequently challenged books? In her novel I know why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou Discribes, in detail, some of the harshest realities of life. Including racism and segregation, the rape of a child, teen sexuality, abusive family situations, and teen pregnancy. Many parents feel it isn't appropriate for their children to be assigned Angelous book to read because they dont think their kids are ready to be exposed to such harsh things. Although Maya uses sometimes overly graphic writing, the struggles she depicts through provided her with the will to become who she is today and can provide the reader with a better understanding of the world they live in. The main reason parents disagree with Ancelcus book being taught in their childrens schools is because of the graphic descriptions of many the harsh realities that accrued in her life. But thats exactly why it should be taught. Most of the time when kids learn about real world situations like rape and racism they learn through statistics and history text book explanations. Maya presents her experiences in such a way that you feel that you too have been through them. For example: Very early on in her life Maya was molested and then raped by her mothers boyfriend. She lets you in on her thoughts and tells how a horrible thing like rape feels on a young body by saying things like Then there was the pain. A breaking and entering when ever the senses are torn apart (pg.65). I think that a teen or pre-teen reading this male or female will feel almost instantly sympathetic towards Maya and people who have been in her situation. Either that or this would be too much for some kids t o handle specially sheltered kids who are regularly exposed to unpleasant things. But the thing ...

Using Verbs and Adjectives to Brighten up News Stories

Using Verbs and Adjectives to Brighten up News Stories Journalism students just getting started in the craft of news writing tend to clog up their prose with too many adjectives and lots of boring, cliched verbs, when in fact, they should be doing the opposite. A key to good writing is to use adjectives sparingly while choosing interesting, unusual verbs that readers dont expect. The following breakdown illustrates the effective use of adjectives. Adjectives Theres an old rule in the writing business - show, dont tell. The problem with adjectives is that they dont show us anything. In other words, they rarely if ever evoke visual images in readers minds, and are just a lazy substitute for writing good, effective description. Look at the following two examples: The man was fat. The mans belly hung over his belt buckle and there was sweat on his forehead as he climbed the stairs. See the difference? The first sentence is vague and lifeless. It doesnt really create a picture in your mind. The second sentence, on the other hand, evokes images through just a few descriptive phrases - the belly hanging over the belt, the sweaty forehead. Notice that the word fat isnt used. It isnt needed. We get the picture. Here are two more examples. The sad woman cried at the funeral. The womans shoulders shook and she dabbed at her moist eyes with a handkerchief as she stood over the casket. Again, the difference is clear. The first sentence uses a tired adjective - sad - and does little to describe what is happening. The second sentence paints a picture of a scene that we can readily imagine, using specific details - the shaking shoulders, the dabbing of the wet eyes. Hard-news stories often dont have the space for long passages of description, but even just a few keywords can convey to readers a sense of a place or a person. But feature stories are perfect for descriptive passages like these. The other problem with adjectives is that they can unwittingly transmit a reporters bias or feelings. Look at the following sentence: The plucky demonstrators protested the heavy-handed government policies. See how just two adjectives - plucky and heavy-handed - have effectively conveyed how the reporter feels about the story. Thats fine for an opinion column, but not for an objective news story. Its easy to betray your feelings about a story if you make the mistake of using adjectives this way. Verbs Editors like the use of verbs because they convey action and give a story a sense of movement and momentum. But too often writers use tired, overused verbs like these: He hit the ball. She ate the candy. They walked up the hill. Hit, ate and walked - booooring! How about this: He swatted the ball. She gobbled the candy. They trudged up the hill. See the difference? The use of unusual, off-the-beaten-path verbs will surprise readers and add freshness to your sentences. And anytime you give a reader something they dont expect, theyre bound to read your story more closely, and more likely to finish it. So get out your thesaurus and hunt down some bright, fresh verbs that will make your next story sparkle. The larger point is this,  as journalists, we are writing to be read. You can cover the most important topic known to man, but if you write about it in dull, lifeless prose, readers will pass your story by. And no self-respecting journalist wants that to happen - ever.