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Marta Salinas's Short Story 'The Scholarship Jacket'

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People Change Over Time ★As we grow we realize that people change. You look back and see how different one person was a while ago and how much we realize that they have changed. People don’t just change on the outside, they also change on the inside in terms of how they think. Both Marta Salinas and Cynthia Rylants show two different yet important lessons in life. In Marta Salinas’s story, “The Scholarship Jacket” the main character Martha wants to win a jacket based off of her grades. It takes her a second to realize that she has to stand up for herself because she knows that she earned it. Eventually she realizes that she won’t get it if she does nothing, and ends up standing up for herself. However in Cynthia Rylant's short story, “Shells” the main character Michaels parents died in a car crash. He ends up moving in with his aunt Esther. She thinks that Michael hates her. Eventually both Michael and Aunt Eshter realize that they don’t hate each other and eventually find something to bond over to have a better relationship. In Marta Salinas’s short story, “The Scholarship Jacket” she shows us the …show more content…

She uses Martha's problems to show when you don’t give up, good things happen “ I looked at him, forcing my eyes to stay dry. "He said if I had to pay for it, then it wouldn't be a scholarship jacket….” "Okay, damn it. We'll make an exception in your case. I'll tell the Board, you'll get your jacket." I could hardly believe it. I spoke in a trembling rush. "Oh, thank you sir!" Suddenly I felt great. (Salinas - 4) In this moment the author uses character dialogue to show the theme because it shows that when she stood up for herself and didn’t give up she got what she wanted. If Martha didn’t talk to her grandpa about it and get good advice she probably never would’ve gotten the jacket. But now she's more confident and won’t give

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“Shells” by Cynthia Rylant is a realistic short story about a teenage boy named Michael who moved in with his Aunt Esther who is rich, mean, and crabby because his parents pass away. One way Aunt Esther accused Michael is when she told him he hated her and that he didn't like living there. For example, in paragraph 5, the author says “You hate it it here and you hate me too,” yelled Aunt Esther. In paragraph 6, Michael yelled, “I don’t,” Michael yelled “It’s not you!” This is important because he really doesn’t like her or living there

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The theme of family trying to always help each other is seen in this quote because Grandfather did not mention his well-being, and only wanted Mattie to be safe. On the other hand, if there was not as much description it would be more difficult to see why Grandfather did his actions, and what the theme is. Overall, Laurie Anderson uses two methods to show the theme: description and dialogue. These two methods help the reader to

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Martha once wrote, “I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have learnt from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition, and not upon our circumstance; we carry the seeds of the one, or the other about with us, in our minds wherever we go” (Brady 104). She shows how Martha Washington, was devoted to her husband in all kinds of ways as together they dealt with the many struggles that they had to face. The author lets the reader know that George and Martha were a team that worked together. “Their mutual love, confidence, and her support helped keep him going in the face of every disappointment, setback, and defeat” (Brady 144). Brady shows Martha as a strong determined lady that made great contributions to her family, the country, and the position of First

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She forces the reader to consider that circumstances conspires against the world and men, yet God reassures Martha, “Don’t worry,” God said. “I won’t be sending you back home with another message that people can ignore or twist to suit themselves. It’s too

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Marta Salinas’ realistic fiction story “The scholarship Jacket”, takes place at a small school in Texas. Martha, a straight A plus student, was finally in 8th grade, her year to receive the valedictorian jacket. There are many troubles leading up to Martha receiving the jacket, such as the teachers changing the policy to make her pay $15. This changed the meaning of the jacket because it was no longer a reward. Marta Salinas created the theme that hard work pays off, she displays this theme by showing how Martha feels with point of view, and foreshadowing.

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