Q3 Writing Showcase

Quick Writes and More

Our Reflections Inspired by the Play

Valuing Your Mental Health

By Lyra Sanford

I always try to value my mental health but it's hard to have alone time with myself just to rest not just my body but my mind. I feel like the only time I really get with myself to reset is in the shower. I have time to think about my life. Even when I do rest I'm still stressed, drowning in school work and friend’s situations, practice, or time with my family and boyfriend Days start to repeat and It's annoying because nothing works when I try to make things different and trust me

I've tried many things. I've tried hanging out with friends and going to art classes and sports and the gym and my days are still the same. Wake up, go to school, go home, go to the gym, go back home, and go to sleep. That's my school week summed up. On the weekend it is a little different like instead of school, it's chores, hanging out with friends and family or practice

Great Migration

By Braedan Michak

Mr.HarrisonarrivedinPittsburghafteralongtripfromSouthCarolina.Hewasfinally awayfromtheSouthinanewlandofopportunity HewasintheHillDistrict,athriving communityofAfrican-American-ownedbusinesses.Thingsweregreat,therewereplentyof thingstodo,likegoingdowntotheCrawfordGrillorgoingtotheHurricaneLounge.Butbefore hecouldfocusonthathehadtothinkaboutwhathewasgoingtodoformoneyandtrytogeta housetocallhisown.HelearnedthatPittsburghwasn’tcompletelyvoidofracism.Mosttaxis wouldn'tcomeuptotheHillDistrict,thepolicewouldn’tcometotheHillDistrict,andeventhe emergencyserviceswouldn’tgototheHillDistrict.

Independence

By Zadie Chambers-Logan

I highly value independence, but I often struggle to consistently use this trait Initially, the feeling of accomplishing tasks on my own is satisfying because I can take full credit for my achievements/work However, there comes a point where I may require help from other people In such instances, I can’t solely attribute the success to myself and must acknowledge the thought processes of others. Other than this, working independently is enjoyable and can often be more convenient than collaborating with others It allows me to have complete autonomy over my actions without having to rely on the opinions or ideas of others. Collaborating with others can sometimes be challenging, especially when they introduce new ideas that I might not want to cooperate with Therefore, I think that being independent is the preferable choice

The Great Migration Quick Write

By Tristan Kelley

There is an event happening right now that is called the Great Migration which is about 6 million African Americans arriving there, and they are there because they escaped from the Jim Crow Laws. I think the person is hoping to have a good life when they get to Pittsburgh and that is because the person has a perspective. They are a special person who is brave.

August Wilson’s Plays

By Darnell Peak

IthinkAugustWilson’splayshighlightthestrugglesoftheblackcommunitythatwe wereandstillaregoingthroughlikepoverty,gunsinthecommunity,drugaddicts,pride, discrimination,andmostofallnotrustineachother ThereasonIsaypovertyisabigstruggle thattheblackcommunitygoesthroughisbecausemostofthecommunitywantstoberappers, gangbangers,andproathletes,careerswithverylittlesuccessrates.Thesecareerchoicesare usuallytheperson’sfirstoptionwithnobackupplanwhichleadsto(iftheydon’tmakeit)a dead-endjobbarelyprovidingfortheirfamilylivingchecktocheckanexamplewouldbeTroy fromFences.WhenTroywasworkingforthegarbagecompanyhebarelyhadanyleftover moneyaftergivinghischecktoRose.Gunsinthecommunityarealmostasbadasthedrugsin thecommunity Youcouldhavea12-year-oldtotinggunsandsellingdrugsinsteadofbeingin schoolsettinghimselfupforfailure.AnexampleofthiswouldbeDarnellfromJitneyheusedto beagun-toting,drug-dealingscum,butnowhehastogetthreejobstobuyahouseforhisgirl andshedoesn’tevenwantthehouse.

Troy’s Values

By Jaelyn Evans

I think Troy's top values would be personal fulfillment, uniqueness, friendship, and leadership. I see him living out these values by being good friends with Bono, taking leadership roles around his family, and caring about his personal goals more than others Troy’s family and the world around him encourage and discourage Troy from living out his values by Bono being his good friend, which encourages friendship, and Rose discourages personal fulfillment because she thinks his goals could be different.

The Amazing Owl Cab Company

By Avah Crawley

Hey let's talk about the Owl Cab Company and how cool it is and was in the 1940’s! The Owl Cab Company was the cab for people of color and that was their way of getting around. In this essay we will be talking about how the Owl Cab Company took over all cabs in Pittsburgh

The Owl Cab company was created by a former jitney diver Silas Knox because Yellow Cab did not come to the hill Owl Cab company was the first cab company to get black drivers for the company and was a black business. Before Knox established Owl Cab Company in 1950.

No one wants to get a ride from the Yellow Cab company people like the Owl Cab company.

The Owl Cab company affected black people Before the Owl Cab, black people were not allowed to go on trains and other public transportation, and black people couldn’t afford cars. And black people would walk miles to get to work. When the Owl Cab came, many black people were riding in an Owl Cab In the Owl Cab company, more black people were drivers Jitneys or “Gypsy Cabs” were so pertinent to African American culture, that Pulitzer and Tony award-winning playwright August Wilson wrote about them.

In conclusion, this is how the Owl Cab Company took over all cabs in Pittsburgh and made it a better place for people to live in. Without the Owl Cab Company, Pittsburgh would not be how it is today And that is why the Owl Cab Company will always be the best cab in Pittsburgh.

Literary Analysis Paragraphs

Our Interpretations of the Play

Troy & Death

By Zanayrah Beamon

Troy Maxson is a confident character, as demonstrated in his figurative description of overcoming death, In the opening scene of the play, Troy celebrates the arrival of the weekend with a lively conversation full of brash opinions and outlandish storytelling. He brags, “Death ain't nothing but a fastball on the outside corner” (Wilson 10; act 1, scene 1). This is an example of metaphor The meaning death is not seen as a huge threat like death is fast and will sneak up on you but sometimes you can avoid death by fighting and moving out of the way in this case hitting it out of the park. August Wilson includes this metaphor so that we understand how Troy feels about death and is not that important to him something he can hit away and run from he doesn't take death like something that can get him at any time he thinks he's going to win always there is all so for shading how death like a fastball had killed his side chick and she died for birthing his child, The theme is how Troy relates baseball with life expenses how Troy feels about death and what it means to him it teaching us how death is just another part of life

The Fight

By Tay Brown

How Does The Playwright’s Use Of Language in Your Monologue Script Reveal The Motivations action or emotions of your character?

“ I ain’t Got to say excuse me to you. You don’t count around here no more.” This part comes from Cory when Troy is on the stairs drunk out of his mind and explains how he is in the wrong and they verbally fight. He kicks Cory out of the house because that was Cory’s third strike and said he warned Cory “I’m gonna tell what your mistake was See you swung at the ball and didn’t hit. That’s strike one. See you in the batter box now you swung and you missed that’s strike one don’t strike out!”

Act 1 Mood

By Jeydan Morant

Wilsonusesplottoshiftthemoodofact1,scene4fromjoyfultosomber.Troymakes CoryquitfootballandnowhecomeshomeandsnapsatTroyforit.ThenTroysayshemadea mistakeforthatandalso“See…youswungattheballanddidn'thitit,that'sstrikeone.You swungandyoumissed.Dontyoustrikeout.”(Wilson58;act1,scene4)Inthisquote,Isee metaphorandforeshadowing.FormetaphorTroyistalkingtoCoryaboutabaseballgametelling himnottostrikeout,buttheywereneverplayingbaseball.Andforforeshadowinghesaystonot strikeoutandthatCoryisonstrikeone,sayingmaybesomethingwillhappenonstrikethree. Andheusesabaseballmetaphorsincethatusedtobeoneofthemostimportantthingsinhis life.Ithinktheauthorusesthistocreateconflictbetweenthetwoorcreatesuspenseofstrike three.Fromthissceneandinteraction,youcanseehowTroythinksheis100%correctinwhat heisdoingcomingfromjusthisexperiencesinlifewithsportsandhowheendsupwiththatand believesthatCorywillbebetteroffquittingifTroydiditforhim.CorybelievesthatTroyshould startlisteningtootherpeople'sperspectivesandseeinganotherpointofview.SoIthinkina situationlikethisyoushouldalwaystrytoseewheretheotherpersoniscomingfrombeforeyou makeadecisionforthemthatyouthinkisright.

WorkCited

Wilson,August. Fences : a play.PenguinPublishingGroup,1986.

Troy’s Confidence

By Amir Pollard

Troy Maxson is a confident character, as demonstrated in his figurative description of overcoming death. In the opening scene of the play, Troy celebrates the arrival of the weekend with a lively conversation full of brash opinions and outlandish storytelling He brags, “Death ain't nothing but a fastball on the outside corner.” This is an example of a metaphor. He’s comparing death to a fastball meaning he isn’t worried about death August Wilson includes this metaphor so that We can understand Troy how sees death and compares it to a fastball because that was the sport he played. We can learn not to be afraid of anything and to always have self-confidence Troy also said, “Death ain’t nothing I done seen him, wrassled him ” Troy is comparing death to pneumonia, Troy had pneumonia and is basically saying death can’t be a worse feeling than pneumonia so he is ready. Another thing Troy said is “Ain’t nothing wrong with talking about death That’s a part of life, everybody gonna die, you gonna die, I’m gonna die, Bonos gonna die, hell we all gonna die.” Troy is basically saying he isn’t afraid to die nor talk about death.

Relationships

By James Wells

Troy’s conversation with Rose reveals the weariness he feels as he goes about meeting the physical needs of his family. When Rose calls upon Troy to give Cory his approval and allow him to explore the possibilities of a future in sports, Troy cannot think beyond the daily toil of providing for the family’s needs. He attests, “I give you my sweat and my blood.” (Wilson 40; act 1, scene 3) This is an example of a metaphor He is comparing giving his sweat and blood to giving his 100%. August Wilson wants the audience to see that Troy has been doing a lot for his family, and he doesn’t want Cory to waste his time with sports, he doesn’t want to have any wariness because of his family's needs Troy doesn’t want Cory to be like him with sports He wants him to provide for his family because there is a lot of segregation in sports and in general.

Different Values

By Josh Dalton

“You swung and you missed. Thats strike one” (act 1 scene 4 page 57-58). This metaphor shows how. Troy was using baseball as a quote to show Cory how he's messing up. The meaning or literary in the text is Troy comparing swinging out in baseball to Troy being disrespectful

The writer's goal is developing a metaphor in the story using what Troy likes to do. This teaches us what Cory values and what Troy values Cory doesn't think Troy wants him to succeed and Troy doesn’t think Cory will make it with his values. And for that, Cory is thinking that Troy is jealous of him and is saying that he held him back, that's why Cory and Troy were fighting. Cory says “You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all” (act 1 scene 4)

August Wilson's Life Lessons

By Adam Perkovic

Wilsonusesmetaphortoshiftthemoodofact1,scene4fromjoyfultosomber.This comesfromthepartofthestorywhenTroytells Coryhehastoquitfootballandstartworking becausehecan'thandlework,schoolandfootballatonce.TroyusesthisquotewhenCory disrespectshim.“Youswungandyoumissed.That'sstrikeone,don'tyoustrikeout!”(Wilson58; act1,scene1).TroyusesametaphortocomparebaseballwithhowCoryisacting.AndIthink heisdoingthisbecauseIknowinbaseballyoucan'tactlikethat.Yougottaberespectfultoward everybodyandthatthereareconsequences.Thewriter'spurposeistousemetaphorstotellthe moodoftheplayandcharactersandkindoftellsastory Andtousecharacterizationtoshow howthecharacterstakethingslikethatandhowtheyknowbestwhat'sgoodforthekids.Atthis momentkidsneedwhatwillteachthemdisciplineandhowtomakemoney Butsportscan developapath,afuture,soit'skindaa50/50Ithink.

WorkCited

The Complexity of Humans

By Springer Frazier

The theme of fences is about the complexity of humans, and how the cycle of abuse affects families. “The complexity of humans” is mostly coming from Troy, who is very contradictory with his treatment of Cory, who is very flawed in his actions and words and character, but who isn’t trying to be a bad person He wants the best for his family, he wants his kids to be nothing like him but also exactly like him at the same time. “How the cycle of abuse affects families” comes from Troy's past with his father, him wanting to be better to his kids, for their future, but ultimately pushing some of his abuse onto them.

“Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn’t… and at the same time he tried to make you into everything he was ” -Wilson, pg 97, act two, scene five “All you ever did was try and make me scared of you. I used to tremble every time you called my name… And mama, too… she’s scared of you.” -Wilson, pg 86 - 87, act two, scene four

The literary device used here is hyperbole - exaggeration used to emphasize a point “all you ever did was try to make me scared of you.” Obviously Troy said more to his son than with the goal of making Cory scared of him, this is just how Cory is expressing his hurt and anger with a figure of speech The goal for August Wilson in using this literary device is to emphasize

the rift between Cory and Troy. Metaphors, similes, and just comparisons in general are a tools a lot of people in this family use, as a way to get over a fear of death for Troy, as a way to symbolize resilience like with Rose, a reminder of Cory’s dad in Blue’s song.

This idea of Troy's family using comparisons to get through their problems or make others understand or express their emotions is telling to who we are, because art, like Fences, is a mirror of society. Troy and his baseball, Rose’s fence and garden, Cory and Blue’s song.

It's us, compressed back into ink and the written word.

Troy and Rose’s Conversation

By Star Jordan

Troy’s conversation with Rose reveals the weariness he feels as he goes about meeting the physical needs of his family. When Rose calls upon Troy to give Cory his approval and allow him to explore the possibilities of a future in sports, Troy cannot think beyond the daily toil of providing for the family’s needs. He attests, “I give you my sweat and my blood.” (Wilson 40; act 1, scene 3) This is an example of a metaphor: he is not literally giving them his blood and sweat What he's trying to say is that he has to work hard for his family, giving them everything so that they can have a good life. August Wilson wants the audience to see that Troy works hard for his family, maybe so hard that he doesn't see what they're actually feeling and is just working for them because he has to. This shows how some people in their families have to work so hard for a good life but they've been working for so long that when it comes to a time that they can relax they can't

Think Like A Wilson

By Isaac Moore

Wilson uses Metaphor to shift the mood of act 1, scene 4 from joyful to somber

Around the end of Act 1, Scene 4, Troy is disappointed that Cory would rather do his hobbies instead of doing his tasks and chores

Troy: The boy lied to me. I told [Cory] if he wanna play football…to keep up his chores and hold down that job at the A&P.” (Wilson 57; act 1, scene 4)

Troy: Come here

[...]

Troy: Alright! See. You done made a mistake.

Cory: I didn't even do nothing!

Troy: [...] You swung at the ball and didn't hit it. That's strike one. See, you in the batter's box now. You swung and you missed. That's strike one. Don't you strike out!”

The device is definitely a metaphor because when Troy tells Cory, as he approaches him, that he has made a mistake for walking over to him, and even tells him to “strike out,” a recurring gag between Troy and Cory in the novel The two things that are being compared: Cory walking to Troy and baseball. Troy loved baseball, but he never got the chance to play ball because it was during a time when segregation systems were in their prime. The deeper meaning of this is that Cory wants to get to play sports, but Troy is jealous that he couldn’t play sports because he was

too old. The goal of this is to educate others that even with such systems in place, you can always bypass them, or fight them And thus, this would add to the play’s conflict by a whole lot It shows that our environment, access, and time can affect our values, and even clash with some of the old values in today’s society.

Works Cited

Troy’s Character

By Jordan Milmaster

At the start of the play August Wilson shows Troy is a cheerful character at heart. “Look here bono… I looked up day and death was marching straight at me.” I see the tactics of emotionally compelling to the viewer When he talks about avoiding death, he is really talking about the significance of fate, fate would have it and the events would still unfold. It is foreshadowing “you can run from the devil but can't necessarily hide ” It gives Troy a little bit of spice to his character.

Act 1, Scene 4 Literary Analysis Paragraph

By JaVar Thomas Jr.

Wilson uses stage directions to shift the characterization of act 1, scene 4 from joyful to somber. Cory is mad at Troy because He won’t let Cory play football. Troy’s mad at Cory because Cory doesn’t want to work at the A&P Cory is mad because Troy won’t let him play football (as stated before). The author states, “Cory: He throws his helmet down in the direction of Troy” (Wilson 57; act 1, scene 4) This is an example of: stage directions The significance of stage directions is for us to visualize Cory’s anger. Usually, people don't throw helmets at other people with good intent. August Wilson includes this because he wants to show Cory’s anger. This develops Cory’s mood by showing the slowly deteriorating relationship between Cory and Troy. It shows that sometimes you don't get what you want, even if you were so close to obtaining it. You can’t really choose your family.

Troy’s Downfall

By Gerard Williams

Troy Mason is a confident character, as demonstrated in his figurative description of overcoming death. In the opening scene of the play, Troy celebrates the arrival of the weekend with a lively conversation full of brash opinions and outlandish storytelling He brags, “Death ain't nothing but a fastball on the outside corner” (Wilson 10; act 1, scene 1). This is an example of a metaphor This is a metaphor comparing baseball and death because Troy doesn’t think death is scary. August Wilson includes this Metaphor so that he can develop the characterization of Troy. Troy isn't afraid of death and this shows he’s confident. This connects to family values because it shows he’s an untouchable father, he can't be hurt both physically and emotionally by being straightforward. As the play continues, Troy is not an untouchable father. Later in the story, an incident occurs and Troy is faced with a problem. He cheated on Rose with another woman named Alberta Troy ends up getting Alberta pregnant and when Rose finds out she is in disbelief she is hurt and sad.