Rough Draft

The Story of Charles Dickens

Have you ever seen the screenplay "A Christmas Carol"? Well I have. Do you know you wrote it? Charles Dickens wrote it in December 1843. He said, “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it." He was a writer of many sorts. He wrote screenplays and books. He is well known and still is an inspiration.

Charles Dickens was born Charles John Huffman Dickens. He was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. He was born into a poor family. His parents were Elizabeth née Barrow, she lived from 1789-1863, and John Dickens, who lived from 1785-1851. Dickens led a hard early life. His father was clerk in the Navy Pay Office. He was a friendly, sociable and generous man. His actions caused him to struggle financially throughout his life. And in 1824 his father was imprisoned for his debt. Charles had an older brother named Frances; he was often called Fanny for short. Charles also had younger siblings named Alfred Allen, Letitia Mary, Harriet, and Frederick William also known as Fred, Alfred Lamert, and Augustus Newnham. Later on, Dickens mother and siblings were also put into jail with his father at the Marshalsea Prison. He was not good at keeping his finances straight. In 1824 Dickens became a reporter. At that time Charles was put to work at Warren's Blacking factory. When he was twelve years old his father was released from jail. Already scarred mentally by the experience of his family in jail he was also surprised by his mother's suggestion that he continue to work at the factory. His father saved him from doing that and between the years of 1824 and 1827 Dickens was a student at a school in London. His brief service at the factory tormented him for the rest of his life. He only told his wife and to his closest friend, John Forster this dark secret. This secret became a source of creative energy and betrayal in David Copperfield in one of Dickens books Great Expectations.

Later on in his life his parents were always pestering him to give them some money. Dickens went on to write many novels that we read today. One of his most infamous novels is "The Christmas Story", every year around Christmas time, movies that are based on this book, are played on television.

Charles Dickens was an eager and early reader. This was influenced by his mother learning’s. Mary Weller was an early influence on Charles Dickens. She was hired to take of care Dickens and his siblings. Her bedtime stories, featured people like Captain Murder, who supposedly would make pies of out his wives. She swore these stories extremely true. Charles Dickens said, "The young woman who brought me acquainted with Captain Murderer had a fiendish enjoyment of my terrors, and used to begin, I remember - as a sort of introductory overture - by clawing the air with both hands, and uttering a long low hollow groan. So acutely did I suffer from this ceremony in combination with this infernal Captain, that I sometimes used to plead I thought I was hardly strong enough and old enough to hear the story again just yet."

As a 19th century author, Dickens was known for his characters, novels, and his depth of descriptions. He shed light into the lives of the poor. He had many critic and admirers. Dickens inspired many characters in plenty of different books. Although his earlier life was not all chocolates and roses, he still made it through his trials and tribulations. Charles Dickens was trying to approve people's social life and his books brought out to the public eye the horrific conditions of that time. He also made people look at their religion in a different way then what way they were looking at. And that's why our group chose Charles Dickens.

Who influenced Charles Dickens?

Charles Dickens was an eager and early reader. This was influenced by his mother learnings. Mary Weller was an early influence on Charles Dickens. She was hired to take of care Dickens and his siblings. Her bedtime stories, featured people like Captain Murder, who supposedly would make pies of out his wives. She swore these stories extremely true. Charles Dickens said, "The young woman who brought me acquainted with Captain Murderer had a fiendish enjoyment of my terrors, and used to begin, I remember - as a sort of introductory overture - by clawing the air with both hands, and uttering a long low hollow groan. So acutely did I suffer from this ceremony in combination with this infernal Captain, that I sometimes used to plead I thought I was hardly strong enough and old enough to hear the story again just yet."

Beyond the Line

Recent research has shown that more than 35% of people living in Philadelphia fight everyday. In today's world the conflict between Richard and the gang of boys could have happened in our community. People in this society are fighting everyday. The only difference between the story and Philly is that most of the time people fight over something stupid. Not because their parents want them to stand up for themselves. But because they just wanted to show off. Doing things like that is what causes so many shootings. Everyday innocent people get shot. Selfish acts such as those cause deaths. Deaths are what cause families grief. All shootings and deaths lead up to murders. These days if someone gets shot someone else gets murdered.

First of all most fighting results into shootings. Not a day goes by that I am not afraid to walk out of my house. I don’t even watch the news anymore because I got so tried of hearing those horrible things that are happening. Mothers losing their children, innocent people and children getting shot, and police officers getting killed. Just recently an overnight shooting in Philadelphia killed two men and critically injured another. The shooting occurred on the 6800 block of Paschall Street in Southwest Philadelphia. This was where the police found a thirty-year-old man shot once in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:23 a.m. This needs to stop!

Fighting also causes deaths. A North Philadelphia drug corner led to the deaths of three men during a particularly violent stretch. That has left seven people dead in the city since Thursday. Five of the deaths were found out to be drug-related. The remaining three victims were later on discovered to be connected with the Mutter Street Boys. In 1998 I lost my cousin, Omar, to the selfish acts of some inconsiderate people. He died on his birthday; he only got shot because the people thought he was someone else. Because of those people I lost my cousin, he didn’t even make it through the night. Even though I was only five-years-old and I never got to get to know him I can still feel the pain.

Finally, fighting causes murders. Four Philadelphia police officers have died on the job in the past year. This year between the months of January and June assaults on officers have gone up nineteen percent compared to last year. Division of Public Safety (DPS) officials say the number of assaults on campus police has been rising as well. Since September 2007, ten Philadelphia police officers have been shot on the job, including Sergeant Patrick McDonald and three others who were killed. According to Lt. Frank Vanore, one thousand and three assaults on officers were reported through July 1 of this year. This has gone up compared to the eight hundred and ninety at that point in 2007. The more people fight and try to get out of trouble with the law the more risk of murders there will be.

Fighting is one of the main reasons why so many shootings, deaths, and murders happen. It’s like a cycle if you think about it. Fights cause shootings, shootings cause deaths and deaths cause murders. We as a community need to come together. Put it down and stop the violence!

Thesis Statement and Introduction

Have you ever seen the screenplay "A Christmas Carol"? Well I have. Do you know you wrote it? Charles Dickens wrote it in December 1843. He said,"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it." Charles Dickens was born Charles John Huffman Dickens. He was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. That is where the Dickens Birthplace Museum resides. His parents were Elizabeth née Barrow she lived from 1789-1863 and John Dickens who lived from 1785-1851. He was a writer of many sorts. He wrote screenplays and books. He is well know and still an inspiration.

Annotation #3

Charles Dickens was born Charles John Huffman Dickens. He was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. That is where the Dickens Birthplace Museum resides. His parents were Elizabeth née Barrow she lived from 1789-1863 and John Dickens who lived from 1785-1851. His father was clerk in the Navy Pay Office. He was a friendly, sociable and generous man. His actions caused him to struggle financially throughout his life. He was the inspiration for the character Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield. Charles had an older brother named Frances, he was often called Fanny for short. Charles also had younger siblings named Alfred Allen, Letitia Mary, Harriet, Frederick William also known as Fred, Alfred Lamert, and Augustus Newnham.

Between the Lines

1.Q: According to Richard’s mom, can you develop a set of instructions about how to stand up for yourself?
A: If I refer to what Richard’s mom says, I can develop a set of instructions about how to stand up for yourself. First, you find the person who is messing with you. Second, you address the problem that you have with that person. Third, you act like your about to walk away from them. Fourth, wait for them to say something rude to you. Fifth, after they say something turn around and ask them what they said. Finally, you start swinging. And if you can fight you will have the respect you want and the knowing of how to stand up for yourself.

2.Q: What was the turning point of the story,“The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis”?
A: The turning point of the story,“The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis" was when Richard started to beat up the boys. The boys totally didn't expect what was coming for them. They just thought that he was stupid and just wanted to get beat up, get his money taken and run home crying to his mommy. When they were proven wrong and Richard beat them up they were the ones running home to their mommies. After that the boys came back to Richard with their mothers and got another big surprise. Richard yelled at them and their parents!!

3.Q: What is the conflict of the story?
A: The conflict of the story is Man vs. Man because Richard and the gang of boys fought. The boys saw him coming down the street and beat him up. Another conflict is Man vs. Self I say that because Richards fear of those boys kept him from going to get the groceries. He only continued to run home to his mother because he had fear of getting hit.

4.Q: What is the resolution of the story?
A: The resolution of the story is "Never give up! Never surrender!" All that means is keep trying until you succeed. And never let any one try to take over you because if you do they will never leave you alone.

On The Line

1.Q:How many times did Richard try to go to the store?
A:Richard tried to go to the store four times.
2.Q:What happened after Richard beat those boys up?
A:After Richard beat those boys up the boys ran home crying. And their parents came out to confront Richard.
3.Q:Where was Richard the night of the fight?
A:On the night of the fight Richard was on his block outside in Memphis.
4.Q:According to Richard's mom, why is standing up for yourself so significant?
A:According to Richard's mom standing up for yourself is significant because you don't want anyone thinking that they can mess with you and do anything they want to you.
5.Q:Can you write a brief outline of "The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis."
A:Yes, I could write a brief outline of " The Night I Won The Right to the Streets of Memphis."
6.Q:Who wrote "The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis?"
A:Richard Wright wrote "The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis"
7.Q:What did Richard do to an adult for the first time?
A:For the first time Richard yelled at an adult.
8.Q:How many boys did Richard hit?
A:Richard hit approximately three boys.
9.Q:What happened after Richard got the groceries?
A:After Richard got the groceries he won the right to the streets of Memphis.
10.Q:What did Richard's mother do after he came home for the third time?
A: After Richard came home for the third time his mother made him wait on the steps. When she came back out she gave him a stick and told him if the gang of boys tried to bother him then, fight.

Annotation #2

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812. He was born into a poor family. In 1824 his father was thrown into jail for being in debt. His mother and siblings, were also put into jail with him at the Marshalsea Prison. At that time Charles was put to work at Warren's Blacking factory. When he was twelve years old his father was released from jail. Already scarred mentally by the experience of his family in jail he was also surprised by his mother's suggestion that he continue to work at the factory. His father saved him from doing that and between the years of 1824 and 1827 Dickens was a student at a school in London. His brief service at the factory tormented him for the rest of his life. He only told his wife and to his closest friend, John Forster this dark secret. This secret became a source of creative energy and betrayal in David Copperfield in one of Dickens Great Expectations.

Annotation #1

Charles Dickens was trying to approve people's social life and his books brought out to the public eye the horrific conditions of that time. He also made people look at their religion in a different way then what way they were looking at. And that's why our group chose Charles Dickens.