Interview with the author (Jon Winders)

 You can read Jon Winders' blog here

1.)Q: What is your story about?
A: My story is about a cooling tray of brownies that mysteriously disappears, and an 8 year old aspiring detective named Dan is the only thing that stands between the crime of the century and justice.

2.)Q: What was the inspiration behind your story?
A: Being a camp counselor you meet a lot of kids who have impressionable personalities and there are a lot of mysterious that go on at my work from missing towels to missing underwear?... That and I watch a lot of CSI, Psych, and other crime shows and I love them. Oh and I am always up for a game of “Clue” or “Guess Who?”.

3.)Q: What is the title of your book?
A: Detective Dan: The Brownie Paradox. It is subject to change.

4.)Q: Who are your characters?
A: Danny is a boy who is dreamer and someone who does not like to let things go unsolved. He is friendly and very curious. Along his journey to discover the truth he will meet a host of characters that range from his neighbors, to a policeman, a lost dog, and his family.

5.)Q: Who are the enemies/ villains?
A: The villain of the story is the one who took Dan’s brownies...

6.)Q: Are there special qualities about your main characters?
A: Dan has a knack for problem solving, he is intelligent and because he is at such a young age he see’s and observes things that the adults around him ignore. He pays attention to details and uses his humor and wit to come to his conclusions.

7.)Q: How is your story different from any other child detective story?
A: What separates my story from those done ahead of mine is the fact that the reader connects to Danny. They feel for him, they relate to him and believe in what he is trying to accomplish. Danny is such a compelling character because he captures the essence of innocence through is curiosity and endless hunt of discovery.

8.)Q: Does your story relate to your life?
A: I have had the terrible fate of brownies that have disappeared but not in the way that Dan will. If you read my book then you know what he and I went through. I guess this book is closure for never discovering what truly went on the day the brownies went missing.

9.)Q: What lessons does your story teach us?
A: My story teaches us to always ask questions. By asking questions we interact with the world and by interacting with the world around us we can change aspects of not just our lives but the lives around us. I also teaches us that honesty is the best policy and that curiosity is a blessing.



10.)Q: Do your characters have any flaws?
A: No, not really my characters are kinda one- dimensional because it is a kids book. But it is always subject to change like everything in the book.

11.)Q: What makes your story important?
A: What makes my story important is the fact that I wanted to write it. Like my English teacher told me “Write something you want to write about” I wanted to write a story that I could put my personality into and so that is what I did.

12.)Q: Did you have any struggles/writers block while writing the story?
A: I had a lot of set backs I have changed my topic three times and as the deadline for our rough drafts to be do the story I had I never really liked. Writing this story just came easy, it needs a lot of work still but I’m happy working on it.

13.)Q: Any twists in the plot?
A: It is a mystery, the whole point of the story is to have a twist but what that twist is, well you’ll have to read it to find out...

14.) Q: Tell me more about how your characters met?
A: Well as Dan goes through the motions of solving the crime he visits the people and places around him to help put the pieces of the puzzle back together.

15.) Q: How has writing this story affected you?
A: It has made me ask more questions about the world around me and not take anything for granted.

16.) Q: Do any of your characters have a moral compass?
A: Well Dan is a nice kid who likes to explore he doesn’t have a set compass but he is always looking for answers and exploring all options.

17.) Q: How does Sherlock Holmes affect your story?
A: Funny you ask that Jesse well, Mr. Holmes is portrayed as a witty, intelligent and I see Dan as miniature Sherlock Holmes and he see’s himself as that too.

18.)Q: Will there be murder in your story?
A: Probably not seeing as though the culprit took brownies but you never know in a mystery how things will unfold.

19.) Q: What is your character’s story before the story takes place?
A: Well its normal Saturday afternoon the weekend before school starts up again until this happens. So there is no real back story except that Dan likes playing detective and the brownies his mom was making are now gone...

20.) Q: Why pick Brownies?
A: I chose brownies to make my story stand out from others because missing cookies has been done too much.

Zombie Story Rought Draft

1

            The sun began to rise above the trees, creating a warm glow in the quiet warehouse where there lay a man; a man who was just looking to visit his father in upstate New York. Frank Smith awoke with a look of pure exhaustion and mental pain.  It’s not easy sleeping after what just happened the day before.

            Everything was going fine. An attempt to drive through New York City didn’t work out so well. About two hours before his arrival, the United States government declared a state of emergency as a deadly infection began to grow in the Northeast. It turned people into mindless lunatics, AKA: zombies. When infected, it wasn’t long before your body shut down, waking up hours later without any thoughts or soul; only the desire to seek out food and attack any living creature.

            The city grew into a mosh-pit, as people fought each other over food supplies and other items, before packing up with their families and fleeing. Frank was caught right in the middle of it, not being able to drive through the traffic. He ditched the car, and ran outside the city, taking shelter in a warehouse. He made sure to lock it up well, and not let anyone else in. He couldn’t take the risk of getting infected.

            Frank didn’t sleep well, maybe only getting an hour or so of real rest. He wasn’t sure what to expect of the next morning. When he awoke, he scavenged through the warehouse, finding large boxes full of soda. As he dug deeper, packages of crackers revealed themselves. He didn’t have much of an appetite because of fear just leaving him mostly motionless. He ate in silence, just wondering what outside the warehouse was like, and what had become of the city. Frank wasn’t sure whether he should flee to somewhere safer, or stay put not knowing how many undead monsters might be feasting out there.

            Eventually after sitting motionless for an hour, Frank decided to look around and see what he could find. Hidden in a corner was a small little tube television, plugged into a cable outlet behind it. He motioned his hand toward the power button, and used what force he could to turn it on. The T.V. was already on the news, and he couldn’t believe what he saw. The government was continuing to issue warnings for people to leave the cities. Many were infected, and would eventually wake up sometime today as mindless zombies. Air footage was shown of places like Providence, Pittsburgh, and even New York City which was just outside the building Frank was taking shelter in. The footage was mostly silent. A zombie was seen here and there, but most were left motionless, waiting to awake later on in the day with no thoughts or heart. They would attack any living thing, which would turn them into a zombie.

            Frank had to act fast; he had to leave now before all of those monsters woke up. He searched around the room for anything to keep him safe. Frank Smith had fought in Afghanistan for almost two years. He wasn’t sure how his military training paid off, and if it could save him from a zombie apocalypse.

            Eventually he found a beat up crow bar, and some bolt cutters, which he knew would help him with his survival. Frank came across a large backpack in a corner of the room, and stored the bolt cutters for later. He armed himself for whatever he might find outside. Frank unlocked the large garage door, and threw it open, shocked at what he saw.

2

            Yes, there were the dead on the streets, awaiting their return to life as an undead zombie. However, there were other people just like him. They scavenged every store the could before the undead rose up and attacked the living. Hundreds of people smashed store windows, later returning with bags full of supplies and weapons. Buildings were burnt as riots broke out, and people fought each other over the last can of soup, or the last baseball bat at the sporting goods store.

            Frank joined in on the violent looting, coming away from it with a backpack full of bandages, baked beans, soda, matches, soup, and a small hockey stick poking out of the opening in the bag. He knew he couldn’t return to the warehouse and lock himself up in a death trap. He had to leave the city, before thousands of zombies rose from their quiet sleep.

            He darted through the city as his bag swung side to side with every step. He ran through the alleys in order to avoid the mobs of violent people on the main road.

            After an hour of non-stop running, Frank stopped as he had left the city. He was still close, with massive skyscrapers poking through the clouds in the background. He was in a fairly small town now, with local restaurants and general stores left untouched. When people heard of a nearing zombie apocalypse, they just panicked and left. No store windows were smashes, and hardly anything was stolen.

            Frank made his way down the road, with crowbar in hand, and a bag on his back. He moved into a nearby general store, locking the door behind him. He figured it was a safe place to stay for a while, but he had to board-up the windows for safety. As he searched in the back room, he found multiple wooden storage crates. He savored the nails, and found a small doorway in the dark corner. It hid well, camouflaging with the gray walls. He turned the knob, slowly opening the unknown.

            There sat a staircase; a pathway to the second floor. As he ventured up, he was pleased with what he saw: a couch, small television, refrigerator, and everything he needed to have a small, comfortable home. Two small windows let light brighten the upstairs. There were, of course, lights in the ceiling as well, but it wouldn’t be long before the electricity gets shut off due to the zombie infection.

            Frank quickly dashed toward the sink, turning the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ knobs. A smile sprang from his face as the feel of hot water made him feel a little better about the near future. He splashed the water on his face; somewhat hoping it would wake him from this nightmare. Frank rummaged through his bag, grabbing at a bottle of soda. He poured it down the drain, and began filling it with water. It wasn’t as satisfying as cold bottled water, but the one thing everybody stole was fresh water from the stores before their panic made them flee.

            In preparation for the night, Frank knew he had to board-up the windows. Those wooden planks from the storage crates wouldn’t be enough. He left the store, taking his bag of supplies with him.

            He slowly walked down the road, until he found something that seemed too good to be true. A huge white pickup truck just sat there on the side of the road, staring him in the eyes as he approached. He walked up to it steadily, inspecting the massive tires, and steel brush guard on the front. He attempted to open the doors; of course it was locked. He could just break the window, but the possibility of the alarm going off was really risky. For all he knew, it might be someone’s truck who is in the store right next to him. He did it anyways. He pulled his arm back with the crowbar, and smashed the truck windows. It took a couple swings, but eventually they shattered into a thousand pieces. There was no alarm. Frank reached his arm through, and unlocked the doors. As he crawled in, he noticed something perfect. The key was in the ignition. It’s as if someone left it there on purpose, leaving it behind for him. No alarm, keys in the truck. It was too perfect. Or maybe someone just ditched it, choosing to move on foot and take shelter in a nearby store, deciding never to return to the four-wheel drive beast.

            Frank turned the key, as the engine roared, as if it was showing off its strength and dominance of the road. The gas gauge needle barely moved from empty. He prayed it had enough gas to drive away. Frank put the car in ‘drive’ and slowly crawled down the road in order to not waste any gasoline. He saw signs for a gas station down the road, and eventually reached his destination a couple of minutes later. After filling the truck with gas, he ventured into the small store there, looking for gas containers that he could use later. As he put his hand on the door, he saw something move in the background. Frank slowly opened the door, preparing his crowbar for what was to come. A man showed himself from behind the counter, holding a 12-gauge shotgun. He was a large African-American man in a police uniform. He lowered the gun, with a look of relief on his face. “Don’t be sneakin’ up on me man. I thought you were one of those flesh eating freaks.” His voice was loud and booming, as if being fired from a cannon.

            Frank looked relieved as well. “Sorry. I thought the same thing when I saw something movin’. The name’s Frank.”

            “I’m Chris. I was just looking around for some food and water.”

           

            “Don’t waste your time doing that! I got plenty. I can take you to a small store in town that I set-up at.”

            “I don’t know. I ditched my truck there yesterday ‘cus everyone was panicking and leaving. You sure there are no zombies there?”

            “Not that I’ve seen. And what type of truck was it?”

            “Big white truck, massive tires, brush guard. Almost out of gas though. I couldn’t risk sitting in traffic while people were freaking out, so I got out and ran. Spent the night here.”

            “I found it. I got your truck outside. I came here for gas. I gotta find some gas cans. Let’s find some. I can take you back to where I’m staying. Gotta find some wood and nails to board up the windows though.”

            “My baby! So glad my truck’s back! I got some 2X4s here along with nails. I found them at a hardware store earlier and figured they’d come in handy.”

            Frank and Chris found eight gas cans, and filled them all up. They hopped in the truck and drove toward the general store. Chris chose to let Frank have the truck since he was giving him food and water. When they arrived, they immediately boarded up the windows, and locked the door behind them as they entered the store.

            Chris was amazed by the rows of snacks, candy, jerky, and canned food. The refrigerators were full of soda, juice, and milk, with all of the spring water missing.

            Frank walked over and tapped him on the back. “It’s all yours,” he said. “You can stay here if you want. We got enough food and drinks to last a while. The upstairs has blankets and couches along with running water and a toilet. I think this is safe for a while.”

            “Thanks man. I’ll definitely stay here. I saw on the t.v. this morning though that we should cover the windows with blankets. I guess the zombies are attracted by light and sound. We can’t be walking around here at night with the lights on unless we cover the windows.”

            “Thank God I found you. I’d probably be a goner if I didn’t cover ‘em up.” Frank went upstairs and found ten blankets. They needed eight of them to cover windows, so at least they still had one left for each of them to sleep with. After they finished, they started getting themselves ready for the night. Chris also came across three keys for the front door so they didn’t have to leave it unlocked while they were gone.

            “We’ll have heat and electricity for a little while,” Frank said. “When it gets colder though we’ll need to be ready. Eventually the electricity and oil will run out, and we won’t have any running water.”

            We should look for batteries and warm clothing tomorrow. Getting’ too late to do that today. Almost dark out.”

            “Sounds good.” Frank paused for a moment, wondering if he should ask the question. “What’s the story? Any family?”

            “Not now. I’d rather not talk about it.” Chris’ voice lowered, no longer sounding like the brave, full of energy man that he was. At six feet tall, and at least 250 pounds, it was strange hearing such a small voice come from his mouth. “Yesterday seemed so normal at first. I woke up, went to work, and then everything just flipped around. It was so crazy I can barely remember it.” A small tear fell from his right eye, slowly travelling down his cheek until it fell to the ground.

            “You a cop?”

            “Yeah. It isn’t just for show. I work at the police station in New York City. I wonder what happened to the place.”

            “We should go see tomorrow.” Frank looked excited for what the police station could have.”

            “No! There’s probably thousands of undead swarming the streets. That’s a suicide mission.”

            “We’ll come up with a plan. Maybe it isn’t that bad.”

            “Trust me, it probably is. There were thousands of people killed and infected yesterday. They’re all walking the streets by now. I’m still surprised I haven’t seen one here yet.”

            “Well we can’t just sit here Chris. We’re gonna need more supplies, especially weapons to defend ourselves.”

            “We can do that later. We just can’t head into the city empty handed. We’ll think about it tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”

            Chris went upstairs, with Frank following behind. They both got comfortable on their couches, quickly dozing off with the fear of what tomorrow would bring.

3

            The sun broke through the clouds, as Frank and Chris awoke after a calm sleep. Frank went through the store taking some of the blankets down so they could get some sunlight. He ventured back upstairs, as he head into the bathroom to splash his face with water.

            There was nothing.

            He turned the knobs, both hot and cold, and nothing came out. This was happening sooner that he had expected. The electricity was still working, but the lack of running water was a problem.

            “Chris, get up! The water’s not workin’.”

            He jumped up from the couch, immediately letting panic set in. Without running water, they would need to venture outside and find water somewhere. The store had milk, juice, and soda, but they would need water to stay hydrated.

            To calm himself, Chris walked over to the window, looking out at the horizon. He stood motionless, unable to react to what he saw.

            It was a disfigured man, walking slowly through the street. Every step looked painful as he limped. He showed no emotion, or any signs of thought. He looked lost, not physically, but mentally. He was a zombie.

            Frank walked over to the window to see what Chris was amazed at.

            He looked so harmless, so innocent. His eyes were colored white and gray, nothing else. The zombie just continued limping along, without a fear or thought; no expression on his face.

            “I feel bad for him.” Chris broke the silence, still staring at the helpless creature. “He looks so innocent. Is this what people are afraid of?”

            “Guess so. Don’t be fooled though. They’ll attack anything that moves.”

            Chris ran downstairs, and got a better look at the helpless monster. Frank followed, warning Chris not to let him see them. He didn’t move, Chris just stared at him through the windows.

            That undead disfigured man suddenly stopped, and turned to look at the store. He caught sight of Frank and Chris. They made eye contact, just staring each other down for about ten seconds. His mouth slowly opened, letting out a wicked growl. He darted toward the door, smashing his body into the barricaded windows. He kept throwing himself at it, just trying to get at the two survivors.

            “We have to kill him!” Frank kicked open the door without any fear, and began pulverizing him with the crowbar, until that flesh-eating freak stopped moving. Frank stopped. Taking deep breaths, he just looked at his bloody hands and began crying. Thoughts raced through his mind. Thoughts of the future, memories of his family, and fear of having to savagely kill more undead beasts terrorized his mind.(To Be Continued)

Growing Up With the War

For the last decade, many people have grown up with the thought of a war going on as a normal occasion. Adults have seen otherwise, growing up in quieter times, and going through their fair share of “ups and downs.” However, teenagers and younger children do not know what it would be like any other way. For the majority of our lives, we have lived in a country fighting two wars. Since 2001, we turn on the television, hearing about the new number of casualties over in the Middle East. Troops are continuously sent in by our government, without any knowledge going out to the public about an objective. Saddam Hussein was executed, Osama Bin Laden is dead, and we have helped both Iraq and Afghanistan create schools and hold elections. What more is there to do?

            After successfully eliminating powerful terrorist leaders and helping those two countries rebuild and get a taste of freedom, we continue to send in more troops. What is the objective, what is our goal there? As more soldiers lose lives, and spend years without seeing loved ones, this country’s youth can only sit around and watch. We watch the wars that have been dragged out beyond their meaning. The purpose was to fight back against terrorism after the horrible attacks of 9-11. After the execution of Bin Laden and Hussein, why can’t our country just call it a victory? We’ve helped them rebuild, and we’ve proven the strength and courage of America, and all of the people who are a part of it. We’ve done what we can, and now there is no more meaning for us to continue to fight. Call it a victory, walk away proud. There’s no reason to continuously send our soldiers in to a war we’ve already won.

            After a decade-long war, this country’s youth is growing up. Those who have been forced to sit back and watch can now make a difference. Many high school graduates have chosen to enlist in the military, and try to help end this war as fast as possible. College students are protesting everywhere against the government which chooses to sit back, and watch families go broke, while losing loved ones overseas. Are all of the protests and increase in military enlistment a product of the war and how it affects our youth? Is it because we’ve grown up with a war that has lasted far too long, and decided to speak out now that we are becoming adults? I think so. Our country’s youth has had to sit back for the last ten years, and do nothing while family members die overseas. We’ve seen the news about the execution of Saddam Hussein, and the recent elimination of Osama Bin Laden. Now that our country has accomplished important goals in the war, our government decides to keep fighting. Now is the time that children are growing up, and becoming adults in the real world. They’ve decided to speak out, and put an end to all of the problems they have grown up with. Can you blame them?

The Walking Dead (Season 2)

     The Walking Dead creates an atmosphere that forces viewers to tune in every week to catch the newest episode. It sets the perfect example for what a great zombie story should be.
     As I work on my zombie story, I have been watching every episode of the most popular zombie television show ever. Throughout the first season, the most important aspect of every episode was the shift in emotion and hope. The story was constantly on a cycle, first giving the survivors a a ray of hope, and then taking that away and making the worst of the situation happen. There was never any happy ending, and there was never anything so bad that it ended everything. It just kept cycling.
     However, in the first and second episode of Season 2, this cycle has been non-existent. In the season premier, the survivors spend all of their time searching for Sophia, a small 12 year old girl who was lost in the forest after being chased by two 'walkers.' The viewer is expecting something good to happen throughout the whole episode, but it never happens. The survivors are merely teased. First they come across a tent, which only has the corpse of a suicidal man. Next, they hear church bells, only to find out they're being played through a speaker on an automatic timer. The church has no sign of Sophia, only a couple of zombies sitting in a church service after death. All hope is lost. After being teased, the viewer doesn't know what to expect. There hasn't been anything that the survivors can look forward to. Nothing good has happened, only more pain and suffering.
     If the viewer thought things couldn't get any worse, they were wrong. When Shane and Rick agree to let Carl join them in the hunt for Sophia, you know things aren't going to be good. There is one small glimmer of hope; another tease that is quickly snatched away as Carl is shot after finding a deer.
     Season 1 was such a perfect zombie story. Whenever something good happened, the viewers had to expect something bad; something devastating and painful. This was different. The writers of The Walking Dead completely changed things up. There were no rays of hope, they were just merely teases that led to something painful and tragic. It kept everyone guessing. They sat waiting for something good, waiting for something that would never happen. People will continue to watch the rest of the season, waiting for that something; waiting for one ray of hope that will never happen. Because of this, The Walking Dead keeps bringing viewers back. It keeps making people tune in every weekend. After the emotional cycle of the first season, people could only expect more in Season 2, but were left completely stranded with these expectations. The Walking Dead keeps people guessing. Just when you think you've figured it out, the story makes you completely wrong. You keep checking back every week until you can figure it out again. The Walking Dead keeps you guessing, and it could very well change again for the rest of the season.
     A good zombie story is unpredictable. The reader/viewer has to think they understand it, but then be completely thrown off by something drastic later on in the plot. The Walking Dead has perfected this.

The Walking Dead (Continued First Season)

As I continue to think about my zombie story, I have finished watching The Walking Dead, analyzing a world where staying together and surviving are the most important things in life. Even as the world is considered over, there are still few who continue to battle everyday against the undead.

            Throughout the whole first season, The Walking Dead continues to see shifts in emotion and hope. There is always something tragic, followed by a ray of hope, back to misery. It’s a vicious cycle. Even when everything seems fine, there still has to be something bad that happens to the survivors as the population of the living continues to decrease. Even when in an apparently safe camp, zombies raid one night and take several members, turning them into undead monsters. When Rick ultimately convinces the rest of the group to leave, it shows a weakness among their trust in each other, which is an important concept throughout the show. Rick does a lot to save the group, but they continue to just look at his decision to go back to the city and take most of the men with him. They’re starting to lose trust, but ultimately decide to go with him to the CDC building (a giant scientific lab believed to be protected by the military so they can find a cure for the zombie infection).

            There again is a shift as they go from the tragedy at the camp, to finding “heaven” at the CDC building. When they are greeted by Dr. Jenner, he shows them around the safe haven. The kids enjoy the play room, while the adults enjoy hot showers and good food, along with plenty of alcohol. Everything seems perfect, but somehow the writers of The Walking Dead get the viewer to know something bad is going to happen. Whenever something good happens, the viewer knows something even worse is going to strike the group. They viewer is just forced to anticipate what is going to happen, and then still be shocked when it finally occurs. As the group enjoys their only night at the CDC, they find out the next morning about the building’s self-destruct system which will kill all of them in less than a split-second. Jenner tries to explain to them that death is the best option, as he almost tricks Rick into telling him that it’s only a matter of time before they die outside anyways. Eventually they find a way out, as the last episode of season one ends and leaves the viewers questioning what happens next.

            The most important thing to writing such a great zombie story is keeping hope and emotions on a rollercoaster. There are always ups and downs. There’s never anything that kills all of them and ends the story, and there isn’t any happy ending. As survivors fight for their lives, their patience with each other is tested, and they continue to fight the unexpected.

This I Believe

Together, mankind can accomplish greatness when people work together for a common goal. This can only occur because of the individuals who come together to find incredible things about life, and create something amazing. Each individual has a path; something they believe in. On my path, I work to accomplish what I perceive to be a successful life. In order for that goal to be reached, I must be confident, and feel proud about all of the great things in life. Through accomplishing this, I recognize my connection to other people. I understand that people have to come together, and love each other. We have to hold the important people in our lives close to us.

            The summer before Senior year was a difficult one. My dad had finally taken care of his own personal problems, when the rest of his family was having trouble. His father was sent to a VA in Brockton due to his now inability to walk without falling. He was lonely, and my dad enjoyed going to visit him every now and then to check on him and brighten his day. At the same time, my uncle was having trouble with alcohol and depression. He had been living this way off and on his whole life, but things were getting worse now. My dad tried to work with him and get him to see the good things in life. The last few months my dad had spent more time with his brother than ever before. He enjoyed seeing him and getting to talk about life with him. He had never known his brother more than at this time in life. My father was focusing on seeing the good things in life, and trying to help my uncle recognize them. I believe in this way of thinking. Being able to look on the bright side, and being thankful for everything I’ve been blessed with. It was something my uncle had trouble doing. Over the summer he passed away, and I was worried for my family. I didn’t know how my dad would react in the long run, and I was especially worried for my grandparents. My uncle was a great man; he just kind of drifted away toward the end. I remember the good times we had when I was younger. I remember the happiness I still believe in. We would watch wrestling with his son and my brothers, and he would take us to his restaurant when it was closed, and cook us hamburgers while we watched sports. He was always thinking of other people. My Uncle Arthur was also my godfather, and after he passed I really started to remember the good times. He always brought back an autograph for us from someone famous, and he remembered birthdays until the end. My grandmother was devastated, and never found help for herself. My father and the rest of our family did what they could to help, but it’s out of our hands now. She can’t get better until she accepts the help and tries to get better. I pray she can find the help she needs.

            I believe in the importance of connecting with other people, and keeping friends and family close to us. Alone, we can’t do much. I would just be a very confused teenager without my parents, the rest of my family, and my friends. Who knows who I would be. Without them, I wouldn’t have an identity. They’ve been there for me while I grow as a person, and continue to strive for success. There have been bumps in the road, but none of them throw me off the trail because the people closest to me are there to steer me back on track. When alone, we don’t know our own identity. But together, we can accomplish greatness.

The Walking Dead Analysis

It’s a classic tale. A police officer wakes up to find that everyone is dead and trying to eat each other, and he quickly find help from another man and his son. This is The Walking Dead. Rick is a police officer who isn’t quite sure what happens when he wakes up. He’s been shot, and been in the hospital for quite some time. As he ventures through the silent halls, he discover dead bodies, and undead lunatics attempting to bust through a chained door with a warning “Don’t Open, Dead Inside.” The intensity builds up as he searches for an escape. There isn’t any action going, but his sudden realization that there are zombies and that he is alone leaves the viewer to await whatever happens next. He eventually find his way outside, only to find thousands of corpses in body bags in the parking lot for the hospital. This is the next step, realizing it’s the apocalypse.

            It all hits Rick hard. He stumbles out of the parking lot, and ventures through a field scattered with trees. Everything’s quiet, and the viewer can feel for Rick and his pain. This is what The Walking Dead looks to accomplish. It pulls the viewer in, and makes them feel an attachment to Rick and his shock that he is all alone. As he travels through the field, he meets his first zombie face to face. He is on the ground, helpless, but scary nonetheless. He quickly peddles away on a bike, and stops to just take in the moment and slow down. There’s a ray of hope for Rick, which can help the viewer feel better. However, at the same time, everyone has to fear the worst as he sees what appears to be a normal human walking the streets. He’s hit by a shovel, as a man (Morgan) and his son (Duane) try to get information out of him and find out if he has been bitten. This is a common feeling when watching The Walking Dead. They work to give the viewer hope that Rick will get out of everything okay, but at the same time, create an atmosphere of intensity, and the feeling that something bad will happen.

            The entire emotion of the story changes. Rick goes from being alone, to now finding a couple of strangers that he doesn’t know what to expect from. The Walking Dead creates constant changes in emotion and the atmosphere. In order to keep the viewer interested, they have to switch between fear, sadness, hope, and other important feelings. Just when you think everything will be okay, something terrible happens that pushes the characters to just sit down and cry. After however, they work to create a ray of hope for the characters, such as when Morgan and Duane find Rick. It doesn’t make things too much better. Sure, they help each other out and of course, find a stash of weapons at a police station, something that any zombie story would do. However, they part ways after learning each others story. Everybody has a background, something bad that has happened to them. The stories pull the viewer in, and make them care about all of the characters, especially in moments like when Morgan attempts to shoot his ‘zombified’ wife. It's the classic zombie story, having different individuals with different sad stories coming together to survive.

            Rick thinks it’s a good idea to venture into the city, but from what we learn from other characters, that isn’t a good idea. They attempt to respond to him on the radio, but can’t get through. Eventually he finds himself surrounded by thousands of hungry zombies who tear apart his horse. All he can do is escape into the tank, just to find a zombie inside. The gun shot he fires dazes him for some time, and makes Rick stop and think, only to hear a voice on the radio specifically talking to him, and asking him if it’s “cozy in there.” This creates the ray of hope.

            Moments like this make The Walking Dead. This is of course only one episode, but it’s the perfect example of how to keep the viewer attached. The emotions constantly shift, and even when hope appears to be lost, there’s someone 

Comments for Week 3

http://worldlitblogyo.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-theif-endless-moral-questions.html?showComment=1316777925148#c4338757098810455378

http://ncarter-morality.blogspot.com/2011/09/morality-through-literature.html?showComment=1316778562306#c8631064774406380930

http://codydaveyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/09/evolution-of-morality.html?showComment=1316778962204#c9162278554791175796

http://sally-girouard.blogspot.com/2011/09/cider-house-rules-characters-moral.html?showComment=1316779491767#c6969481413402927307

Together as a Unit

Throughout literature, different novels tell the stories of different characters. Every character has personal feelings, emotions, and morals much like real-life people. They have certain things that guide them, and act based upon their individual beliefs. In The Maze Runner by James Dashner, the story follows and entire community called The Gladers. While the main character is a boy named Thomas, his individual moral compass doesn’t stand for too much because all of The Gladers tend to stay together and work off of each other. While Thomas is the center of the story, The Gladers have a moral compass that they closely follow. It isn’t about the individual. It’s about all of them working together as a unit.

            The biggest aspect of all of The Gladers moral compass is togetherness. They all have different “ranks” and aren’t at the same level as one another, but they all play an important roll. When Thomas wakes up in the Glade, he doesn’t know anybody there, or even remember anything. Still he must make friends with the kids who make up the Glade, and work together with them to achieve a specific goal. He really can’t just choose to isolate himself, because he needs the others to survive.

            The Gladers and Thomas all have a certain goal. They all must survive. It may not technically be a moral at first glance, but survival is their way of life. They have to do anything to survive. Working together, they must make sure to protect one another and be there for each other when there are obstacles.

            They would never be able to survive in the Glade if they gave up. Thomas and The Gladers must always try their hardest. They experience failures trying to solve the maze while they are stuck in the Glade. However, they always have to keep trying their hardest in order to come up with different plans and strategies. At the beginning of Chapter 38, Newt says, “Closest I’ve come so far to hangin’ it all up. Shuck it all and kiss a Griever goodnight. Supplies cut, bloody gray skies, walls not closing. But we can’t give up, and we all know it. The buggers who sent us here either want us dead or they’re givin’ us a spur. This or that, we gotta work our arses off till we’re dead or not dead” (248). It’s like soldiers fighting together in a war. In war, a country’s military has a specific goal. There are scattered objectives throughout, but there is always one main goal that they work to accomplish before the war can end. They see defeats and death, but they always have to keep working, and continue to come up with better plans to accomplish the task. This is like Thomas and The Gladers. No matter the failures they go through, they have to keep trying, and solve the puzzle which tells them how to finish the maze. 

Believe In Yourself

Everybody has a moral compass, whether they are aware of it or not. Each and every person has something they live by. They take their moral compass into consideration every time there is a decision to make. My moral compass is made up of family/friends, happiness, excitement, and faith. My family and friends are the most important thing to me. They are always there, no matter what situation turns up. Just as important is excitement. Everyday can’t just be the same boring day. I have to be able to find excitement. Throughout life I hope to always experience new things and keep every day exciting.

Everything on my compass helps me to find happiness. With every decision, I need to choose what will make me happy. I need to do what is the right thing for me. Every unhappy day is a day wasted. What brings happiness to me is faith, or having something to believe in. It doesn’t have to be religion; it can be anything that guides you. I’m not necessarily the most religious person, but it helps to have something that I can turn to. I do believe there is a God, but I think there is something that must come first before believing in God. It is most important for me to be happy with myself, and feel good about my life. I have to think positive and be at peace with myself. When that has been accomplished, then I can turn to respecting God. I just have to respect myself first. It may sound selfish, but self-confidence and happiness have to happen first for me before I can be guided by anything else.

            I believe in a crisis, my moral compass could help guide me. I know I have family and friends to support me, and I know I have faith, happiness, and excitement in my life. I believe that while family can be very supportive, having faith and happiness are even more important. As long as I have self-confidence and something to believe in and work toward, no crisis is too big of a match

The Way I Am

Whether thought about or not, every human being has morals. Most believe in morals as the right thing to do. They believe in morals as doing something good and helpful. However, it doesn’t always have to be inside those boundaries. Morals do not exactly have to be something good. Morals are a way that each individual lives life. Everybody lives life differently. How somebody lives shows what their morals are.

            Everybody has a different definition of the word ‘moral.’ Some think that the moral thing to do is be kind to everyone, while others may think it’s all about having self-confidence and believing in yourself. One of the most influential ways of explaining your morals is through music. Many singers, rappers, and other music artists create songs that show their beliefs and morals. Eminem (Marshall Mathers) is one of the most famous and influential music artists in today’s society. He often tells true stories of his life and what he went through growing up within his music. He describes what it was like living in a trailer park and having a mother who cared more about drugs and alcohol than anything else. His story of how he became famous shows his dedication and perseverance and can spread a strong message. In his song “Lose Yourself” he advises that everyone should take every opportunity they get. Eminem describes the failures he went through, but he continued to try again with every opportunity. The most powerful line of the song is right at the end, in which he says, “You can do anything you set your mind to, man.” Eminem’s morals are to always use every opportunity you get, and set your mind to whatever you want to do.

            Everybody lives by different morals. Some might disagree with Marshall Mathers, while others are influenced by his life advice. No two people are the same, and no two people live their life exactly the same. Everybody has individual morals which translate to how they live. James Bond is a fictional character who has a ‘moral license to kill.’ His morals are to take care of the “bad guys” and leave the innocent people alive. There are many pacifists who do not believe it is right to kill anybody. However, James Bond has different morals, and believes it is okay to kill those who have murdered other people.

            We all have our own definition. We all have a different meaning. Everybody is different, and so are morals.