Final Project

“Dear Dad”

By David Knaide

You tell me

I gotta be successful

I gotta live up to your name

Well I am successful, I got my own way,

But you tell me

I gotta do things your way,

I gotta do what you say

Well that is not the way it goes no

That is not the way it goes no

Cause I don’t wanna follow the path that you made for me

And I don’t wanna live my life fulfilling your dreams

And I don’t wanna spend my time making you happy,

Cause I gotta be happy too,

I gotta be happy too

So I gotta follow my dreams

I gotta do this on my own

I gotta follow my dreams

I gotta leave this unpromising home

It’s not that…

It’s not that I don’t love you,

But you pushed me further than you know

Controlling me ain’t the way to show

That you love me

And no I don’t want your money, just so you know

See I got this free spirit, yeah I got a free soul

I think it’s time we realize

That you and I don’t see eye to eye

Cause I don’t wanna follow the path that you made for me

And I don’t wanna live my life fulfilling your dreams

And I don’t wanna spend my time making you happy

Cause I gotta be happy too

Yeah I gotta be happy too

So I gotta follow my dreams

I gotta do this on my own

I gotta follow my dreams

I gotta leave this unpromising home

I hear adventure calling me

And I got this whole world to see

So I’m not gonna follow the path that you made for me

And I’m not gonna live my life fulfilling your dreams

And I’m not gonna spend my time making you happy

Cause I gotta be happy too

Yeah I gotta be happy too

So I gotta follow my dreams

I gotta do this on my own

I gotta follow my dreams

Dear dad, I gotta hit the road

Into the Wild Introduction

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, is a story about a young man named Christopher McCandless, who journeyed through the wilderness of Alaska. The story begins when he is found dead inside an old bus. The author then retraces McCandless’s steps and the story tells about his adventure through Alaska. He was missing for two years, but he survived less than a year in the Alaskan wilderness. In order to stay alive, he ate wild plants and he shot and ate animals. He also kept a journal of his experiences, which is talked about in the novel. McCandless eventually died either from starvation or from eating something poisonous.

http://visibleprocrastinations.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/2005-05-31-chris.jpg

About the Author: Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer was born in 1954 in Oregon. After he went to college, he became a carpenter and a fisher, and he also spent much of his time mountain climbing. He climbed to the top of Mt. Everest, and he wrote a book about his experiences, called Into Thin Air, which became a bestseller. His next book was Into the Wild, which is about a young man’s journey through the wilderness of Alaska, and it was also very successful. Krakauer works with funds and organizations that work to preserve the environment. He received an Academy Award for his works, and he has written a few other books, including his most recent, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, published in 2003.

http://www.newnewjournalism.com/authors/Jon_Krakauer.jpg

http://go-passport.grolier.com/page?tn=/gii.html&bl=off&url=http://www.randomhouse.com/features/krakauer/author.html

There are so many amazing places to visit in the United States, but one place that I would really like to see is the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. I would like to go there because I love the outdoors, and I think it would be an awesome experience. Being 277 miles long and a mile deep, the canyon would be a breathtaking site. It would be a lot of fun to hike through the canyon, and it would be cool to camp there. This trip could also be very educational because I would learn about the canyon’s history and the wildlife there. I would like to go there during the summer because the weather is very nice during that time of year. Since the Grand Canyon is so far away, I would probably take an airplane to Arizona. Temperatures there can be up to 105 degrees, so I would pack warm weather clothes, like shorts and t-shirts. Because I would be doing a lot of walking and hiking, I would need to bring hiking boots or tennis shoes. I think it would also be very important for me to have a lot of water with me. In the park, I would have to take shuttles and buses to get around. Also, there are hotels available in and around the park where I would lodge. In the canyon, I would like to go hiking and camping. While doing this, I think it would be amazing to see the sunrise or the sunset in the canyon. I think the rivers inside the canyon would also be cool to see. I really love the outdoors, so I think The Grand Canyon would be an amazing and breathtaking place to see, and it would be great to visit there someday.

http://scienceguy288.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/grandcanyon1.jpg

http://www.peach-alternative-energy.org/resources/1041_grand-canyon-sunset.jpg

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Direct Characterization

"Five feet seven or eight with a wiry build"

Chapter 1, Page 4.

"Smallish with the hard, stringy physique of an itinerant laborer."

"He had the kind of sensitive good looks that women made a fuss over."

Chapter 3, Page 16.

"He was what you'd call extremely ethical. He set pretty high standards for himself."

Chapter 3, Page 18.

Indirect Characterization

Gallien kept trying to convince him not to go into the bush because it was too dangerous and he didn't have the right supplies, but he wouldn't give in. This shows that he is stubborn and won't listen to what anyone has to tell him.

Chapter 1, Page 6.

Gallien asked him if he had a hunting license, and he said no but he didn't care about the rules. This shows that he does not have respect for authority.

Chapter 1, Page 6.

"He could talk for hours. A lot of folks here in town got pretty attached to old Alex." This shows that he is likable and pleasant.

Chapter 3, Page 16.

Westerberg wanted to take McCandless under his wing because of his "vulnerability."

Chapter 3, Page 16.

"And he never quit in the middle of something. If he started a job, he'd finish it." This shows that he is very determined and hardworking.

Chapter 3, Page 18.

He told his parents that he would not give or receive any gifts. This shows that he did not like material things and he thought that other things were much more important.

Chapter 3, Page 20.