Risks In Learning To Read By Frances Ellen Watkins

889 Words4 Pages

Was there any time you wanted to take a risk, but were either too scared, or maybe when you did want to take a risk and you did it, but it didn't work out as you wanted it to? Or you may have taken a risk and it ended perfectly for you. When it comes to risks people do them daily especially when it comes to things such as getting treated unfairly or wanting to be dedicated to doing something. Some people have even made history by taking one of the biggest risks like, going to space, or escaping slave masters, or it can even be by learning. The authors used many different methods of media to explain to the reader about their story and took major risks and small risks. It may seem like they have a huge difference from each other, however they …show more content…

The story "Learning to Read" by Frances Ellen Watkins, is about a slave named Chloe who wanted to read and it was not just her. "'But some of us would try to steal A little from the book. And put the words together, And learn by hook or crook.'" Her fellow slaves also wanted to read and write, however some took the risk by stealing books and reading them at night and others did not. The slave owners did not like the fact that the slaves would be reading because they did not want to risk the slaves running away from their work because the slave owners were scared that they would out smart them. For example, when Chloe stated, "“I remember Uncle Caldwell, Who took pot liquor fat And greased the pages of his book, And hid it in his hat. And had his master ever seen The leaves upon his head, He’d have thought them greasy papers, But nothing to be read." which could tell the reader that if a slave was caught reading they would get killed. However, Chloe did not care. She risked her life as a slave to read a bible at night in her little cabin. Her risk of wanting to learn was good for her because she ended up learning how to read and …show more content…

The story, "Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger." starts off as bad news to the United States presented by president Ronald Reagan. He uses compare and contrast and cause and effect in his announcement. He informs the people of the US about the explosion on the rocket in which killing 7 people. He then stated, "But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly.” which tells the reader about how the people who volunteered to take the risk of their lives for their nation. He then explains, "'There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue.'" this could tell the reader about how just because this event happened it will not stop them from making