According to the article "Teens Behind The Wheel" by Chris Wagner, teenagers are mostly about driving. They drive as soon as they get their license. Parents can't even get their teens out of the couch, but as soon as they get a license they are out and ready on their own. That's what the kids think.. that they are old enough and are responsible for driving. The author wants us to know that their are many teenagers out their that are driving on their own and that they might not be ready for the responsibility about driving a car. The author also wants us to know that when the teenagers get their license and start to drive, they are more likely to start new actions such as drinking or smoking. "In a 2004 study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol,
researchers McCarthy and Brown report that in the period immediately
after obtaining their license, teens are more likely to engage in
high-risk behaviors such as drinking and smoking marijuana," Wagner mentions.
Chris Wagner uses many craft moves throughout his article. One craft move he used was including a fact about the Journal Of Studies On Alcohol. This helps the reader understand better on what teenagers can do when they start driving. Another craft move Wagner uses is that he gives us topics on how teenagers aren't responsible to drive. Some topics are: Inexperience, Speeding, Street Racing, Drunk Driving, Drugged driving, Cellphone use etc. By giving these topics Wagner has shown me several risks and problems that happen while teenagers drive.Each topic has a paragraph explaining what happens when teen drivers do those actions. He mentions that "Teen drivers are far less experienced behind the wheels." Wagner wants us to feel disappointed and angry toward the teenager because these problems are what causes danger to their lives. By driving they can seriously hurt themselves and others as well.
I wasn't aware of many of the topics as mentioned above before I read the article. But as I read through the entire thing I am now more wise about the fact of teen drivers. Now I know that "teens feel the need for speed" meaning they want to go faster then their limit. I myself want to drive, but I wont drive till I know I am ready. I know some of the reasons why the teens are very excited to drive, they want to be independent and become an adult. They want to be treated like an adult so they think that driving might be a contributing factor to being considered one. I personally think that it isn't true. You need to have full responsibility in order to drive and take care of yourself along with the passengers in your car.
I also wasn't aware of the fact that
“16 year-old drivers have a higher rate of crashes in which excessive
speed is a factor.” Among fatal crashes from 1983-2002, the proportion
of drivers who were speeding was highest among 15- to 20-year-olds
(nearly 40 percent), and higher than any other age group (NCSA)." This matter is serious. 15 year olds aren't even supposed to drive. You are supposed to drive when you are 18 years old and have a license. This is why teenagers get into car crashes. They aren't experienced well enough to handle being behind the wheels. Though teens want to drive to have a thrill, they shouldn't drive if they are underage and unexperienced.
Citations:Wagner, Chris. "Teens behind the wheel." CPYU. Not Given. Not Given. 26 Feb. 2013 <http://www.cpyu.org/page.aspx?id=163421>.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Appreciation is the Key to a Happy Life
Has there ever been a time where a family kept changing homes and never stabilized themselves? The Walls' family in the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls had constantly moved from place to place. They were basically like pioneers. The Walls' kids, Jeannette, Lori, Brian and Maureen explored every area they had lived at. The family faced many obstacles throughout their lives such as having a alcoholic father, an artistic yet indolent mother and times where they didn't have enough money or food. The kids don't complain about the problems as often as I thought they would. They seem to handle the fact of not taking baths, eating foods from the trash can, and wearing the same clothes everyday pretty well. There are a number of quotes/lines from the story that got me thinking to myself on how hard the family has it, but how well they take care of it.
One example on how the Walls' kids take care of themselves is by having to take care of their mother first. If the mother lacks the ability of continuing her school job as a teacher, the kids would grade her students test and homework as well as cleaning up the house when all the mom does is laying down in bed crying. -_- I have never experienced this problem, nor do I look forward to this because it's very depressing knowing the mother is all broken down. For myself, I can't stand when my mother cries, but the kids handle it pretty well. They just leave her alone because it happens so often. No one in this world would enjoy having to grade a slacking mother's students' test/homework. These children are so understanding, they don't even have a problem doing it.
Another example is how Jeannette said "I hate the winter." But right away the mother said,
"All seasons have something to offer. Cold weather is good for you, it kills germs." Despite the fact that they have to look at icicles hanging down from the kitchen ceiling from the winter they don't complain move out/getting the problems fixed. If that were me, I would have gone crazy. WHO WANTS ICICLES HANGING FROM THE KITCHEN CEILING? Another thing Jeannette Walls mentioned in the book was that winter minimized the amount of time they washed their clothes. Normally my mother washes my family's clothing every week with our washing machine, but the Walls family doesn't. They can stand living in their filthy clothes when my family can't.
Throughout the book, the family faced many challenges but got through them all. When the whole family slowly ended up in New York, they became successful. At least Lori, Brian and Jeannette did. The mother and father just wanted to live out on the streets. They didn't have money to keep up with their house rent so they usually stayed outside sleeping on park benches. I really don't understand why the Dad can't keep a hold of his job. Why does he get so aggressive? They should know that living inside a house is safer than the outside world. But then again I realize they were meant to be adventurers. They had many pleasant times living out in the wild rather than living in a home. They appreciate all the little things nature brings to them. The hot, cold, anything. On the other hand my family prefers to be living indoors than outdoors. We aren't like the Walls AT ALL. But the one thing we have in common is that...we are a loving family ♥♥
Though I have finished this book a while ago, I have been waiting to write a response on it. This book was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to write so many things on this book but couldn't decide on which to choose. I have never enjoyed a book as much as I enjoyed "The Glass Castle." This book has taught me to be thankful for what I have. Many families out there have so little to themselves when over here I whine for more. :( I always had thought to myself as I was reading the book... "Would I have handled the problems as well as the Walls' kids do it?" Then right away an answer comes to my mind. "No." This book should be read by all students in middle school because they will truly learn from this and appreciate the things that they have already.
One example on how the Walls' kids take care of themselves is by having to take care of their mother first. If the mother lacks the ability of continuing her school job as a teacher, the kids would grade her students test and homework as well as cleaning up the house when all the mom does is laying down in bed crying. -_- I have never experienced this problem, nor do I look forward to this because it's very depressing knowing the mother is all broken down. For myself, I can't stand when my mother cries, but the kids handle it pretty well. They just leave her alone because it happens so often. No one in this world would enjoy having to grade a slacking mother's students' test/homework. These children are so understanding, they don't even have a problem doing it.
Another example is how Jeannette said "I hate the winter." But right away the mother said,
"All seasons have something to offer. Cold weather is good for you, it kills germs." Despite the fact that they have to look at icicles hanging down from the kitchen ceiling from the winter they don't complain move out/getting the problems fixed. If that were me, I would have gone crazy. WHO WANTS ICICLES HANGING FROM THE KITCHEN CEILING? Another thing Jeannette Walls mentioned in the book was that winter minimized the amount of time they washed their clothes. Normally my mother washes my family's clothing every week with our washing machine, but the Walls family doesn't. They can stand living in their filthy clothes when my family can't.
Throughout the book, the family faced many challenges but got through them all. When the whole family slowly ended up in New York, they became successful. At least Lori, Brian and Jeannette did. The mother and father just wanted to live out on the streets. They didn't have money to keep up with their house rent so they usually stayed outside sleeping on park benches. I really don't understand why the Dad can't keep a hold of his job. Why does he get so aggressive? They should know that living inside a house is safer than the outside world. But then again I realize they were meant to be adventurers. They had many pleasant times living out in the wild rather than living in a home. They appreciate all the little things nature brings to them. The hot, cold, anything. On the other hand my family prefers to be living indoors than outdoors. We aren't like the Walls AT ALL. But the one thing we have in common is that...we are a loving family ♥♥
Though I have finished this book a while ago, I have been waiting to write a response on it. This book was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to write so many things on this book but couldn't decide on which to choose. I have never enjoyed a book as much as I enjoyed "The Glass Castle." This book has taught me to be thankful for what I have. Many families out there have so little to themselves when over here I whine for more. :( I always had thought to myself as I was reading the book... "Would I have handled the problems as well as the Walls' kids do it?" Then right away an answer comes to my mind. "No." This book should be read by all students in middle school because they will truly learn from this and appreciate the things that they have already.
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