Comparative Essay

 Authors note: This is a comparative piece between The Jordan Rules, and SPY! For a Comparative essay.

Is it love, pride, or even greed? In the two books The Jordan Rules, and Spy! By Sam Smith, and Anna Myers; the two subjects might be completely off from each other one talking about basketball and the other talking about war, but somehow they both talk about the same concepts. That leaves one question, what are and how are the concepts alike?

The first concept of both books is love? Spy! Talks about how a teacher, but now a captain of the army Nathan Hale was looked at and believed for teaching a community and building great bonds and relationships with his students and their parents. The war started by the British had moved along and carved its own path to the town where the teacher Nathan Hale was hanged. Nathan Hale wasn't hanged for teaching students, the British would have no right; he was hanged because he was also a spy for America, he died with his final words remembered, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Nathan knew he was going to die, but to die for his country meant more than hiding and having the town destroyed and the town people killed with him getting away clean. In The Jordan Rules, Michael Jordan the team leader and heart for the organization is put on the line for basketball. Love for him means his teammates and determination for the game. It is more than just a game to some; it is a lifestyle not a choice. The closing seconds of that game was life or death whether many see it as a game or as a lifestyle.

Another concept used in both books was greed. As many see it in SPY! The man was not greedy, he was a heartwarming kind fellow to die for his country, but as others see it he was a jerk to even thinking about running away and not taking one for the team as they say. His duties were to educate the children and die for his country whether it was by choice or by force. Greed carried over to The Jordan Rules because of one name Michael Jordan; Michael Jordan was known as the greatest player in history to some, but to others he was a greedy snotty player not passing the ball to go for the fame. Michael Jordan took the game winning shot to win the semi-finals game for the Chicago Bulls, he made it with a smile on his face just as much as the person next to him, but if he were to miss the fans wouldn't of thought so high of him anymore; Michael Jordan going from once a beloved player, to a snotty greedy player out for the stats.

Was it a pride issue? Michael Jordan also couldn't stand to lose. He didn’t talk bad about what his team did, but he wouldn't let the ball be in their hands in the closing seconds of the game. In the closing seconds of the game he tried to be the most elusive player possible which could have made him look snotty again. His passion for the game, and determination to win was to overpowering in his mind; he forgets sometimes which is right or wrong. Compared to SPY! Nathan Hale's pride was his greatest strength. Him taking the hit and suffering his life for his country was for his father. He would have lived with shame and could have destroyed the country if he hadn't had the will to die for his country. Pride had been a key factor in each serious of events.

Even though one is just a game to some that might end with a smiley on everybody's face and the other might be violence and war with many deaths and tragic events for a country. Each of the subjects has their similarities; dealing with pride, love, greed, and pure instinct.

Text Structure for SPY!

         In the book Spy! A local teacher Jonah is being hanged by the English. Little did the English know by hanging this teacher it helped them out in many more ways then they thought. They thought by hanging this teacher  that it should scare the children enough that the schools would have to close down, but the effect was greater than what they thought. By hanging the teacher it was a neighborhood scare, the schools would have to close and the community would be threatened. The community would also be threatened because they were sending a message. Any person to not follow there orders would be killed.

         The term sending the message doesn’t mean electronically texting now a days. It was a term used to scare people, and tell them we mean business or this shall happen. The English weren't trying to punish the town people, they were only scaring them enough to leave their mark, also mark their territory.

       They marked their territory because it was almost like hide and seek. They weren't trying to live in the presence, but only the past. They were telling them we have struck this town who's next without getting caught. The scare was enough to try to take over the town. 

Little Boy Got Lost

In the city of Portland, a little boy named Johnny was wondering around the streets at night when he heard a bang. The roar of the bang was so loud Johnny fell to the ground knocked out. Later that evening Johnny's mother LaRonda woke up in the morning doing her normal routine; she went downstairs to make coffee and breakfast and turned the T.V. on.  She waited about fifteen minutes when she realized Johnny isn't home so she took her jacket and hat and headed outside.

When LaRonda walked outside she immediately thought Johnny's favorite place is Chucky Cheese. When she arrived at Chucky Cheese she asked Chuck the head manager is he has seen Johnny Chuck replied, "Umm yes for a matter of fact I have, he walked across the street with a couple of guys this morning." LaRonda thought couple of guys? Johnny was kidnapped! She immediately called the police to tell them when she saw a van go by her. She dropped the phone and grabbed the bike next to her; the chase was on. With her legs being so strong she caught up to them and jumped onto the front of the car and ripped off the windshield. She saw Johnny in the back screaming, she dove back there and grabbed him like he was the like Popsicle in the box and then ran home. LaRonda lived with Johnny happy forever.  

On a usual Saturday

On a usual Saturday, Rodney would just be kicking back relaxing and watching the Marquette game. Then he was watching the television when he saw a commercial about Marquette. The commercial said that you could win season tickets for the Marquette Golden Eagles basketball team if you can jump over a pool full of hungry sharks. Rodney knew he had to jump that pool of sharks even if it meant his life.

Later that day Rodney went onto the internet to search where to go to; to jump the pool of sharks, when he found a website that said this offer ends in the next 2 hours. He also found the street address it was Sylvester 21st street. He immediately screamed saying that's at least 1 hour 45 minutes away. He called his friend Johnny Tupkins. Johnny answered the phone saying "Are you crazy? It's four o'clock in the morning!" Rodney replied "I know But I need these tickets can you drive me?" He also said "Fine I will, but I get to go to the games with you."

Rodney arrived at the pool with only 15 minutes to spare. He had his bike and a helmet, and his enthusiasm to do this crazy stunt. Then he looked down from the top of the ramp and says the Great Whites and the Hammer Heads. Johnny says "Are you going to go already I'm tired it's 5 o'clock in the morning." Rodney replied “I don't know if I want to do this anymore." Johnny answered, "WHAT! I drove you 100 miles away and you’re going to pull this crap." Rodney said, “Your right I'll do it, right after Johnny said you better hurry you only have 15 seconds. Rodney sprinted down to his bike he ran, he biked, and he made the leap! But he had to land in 3 seconds as the clock was ticking down Rodney looked down and saw the sharks jumping, one of the Great Whites just jumped and popped Rodney's tired he had an emergency landing. As the clock was ticking 3...2...1 Rodney landed!!! As everyone was cheering Johnny ran over because he was in pain, he landed on his spine, he was paralyzed from the hip down. Rodney did and succeeded the challenge, but he will not be able to go to any Marquette games again.

Point of View

Authors Note: This is a point of view piece that I am writing for my character from my novel. 

        In my book a local teacher is about to be hanged. His point of view is just thinking these are the last couple breathes I'm going to breathe on Earth ever again. Then there is another point of view and that is the point of his students. Jonah is thinking that he will never learn again because of the limited teachers in the restricted area, and the teacher was very close almost like a father. Jonah never knew his father, his father died in combat after he left the family for personal needs. His father felt so terrible for leaving the family to pay back his dews he went to fight for his country.

The final point of view is his fathers. His father was in the war thinking about his decisions that were made. He thought about how he left a family for personal needs. Then once he died he was thinking about his son and the position he was in, only thing going through his mind was praying for his son to make it out alive.