Author of Substance

Context and Reflection  

For my final exam, I decided upon my author of substance piece. I based my author of substance project on Shel Silverstein, one of my favorite authors. When writing this piece, I think my weaknesses were constructing my sentences, correcting grammar, and choosing engaging words. I stated my ideas in a dull, dry and uninteresting way. I improved a lot this year with the help of my classmates and supportive adults. I am demonstrating how far I have improved my writing, the following is a revision of a piece I wrote earlier this year.

The Piece (Revised)

Every author of substance has good quality of writing. Their books will not be read throughout generations if the writing is not entertaining. We fall in love with an author because they invent characters, settings, and situations. They also know how to launch us into an extraordinary world.  My preference is to re-read books when I want to transfer into another world when mine is stressful. I sob or laugh hysterically at certain parts even though I have read the passages many times before. Authors of substance are significant because they convey a theme or life lesson that causes the reader to ponder and contemplate.

Shel Silverstein is a great example of an author of substance. The Giving Tree is a moving story that my mother and father both read when they were younger. This wonderful book describes a little boy who develops a friendship with a female apple tree. When I first read this book, I became very attached to the tree. I was inspired by how she sacrificed so much for the little boy. If he was in need of something, she somehow supplied him with it. When he needed money, she tells him to pick her apples and to sell them, which he does. As the boy gets older and grows into adulthood, he wants a house. She suggests for him to cut down her branches so he can build a house, which he does. When he is older and in his middle ages, he wants a boat. The tree tells him to cut down her trunk to carve a boat, which he also does and leaves the tree with only a stump. Finally, the boy has grown into an old man. He comes back to the tree who says she has nothing left to give him. But now the boy only wants a place to rest and the stump can provide that for him. After all of the sacrifices the tree made, she was always happy. The message, or substance, of this book is that people becomes adults when they learn to sacrifice for someone. The Giving Tree teaches us about growing up, caring for someone, and love. This is what authors of substance do for readers. Their books impact our lives in many ways.   

About the Author

My name is Mea Vesci. In general I am a hard working student in all my classes, still struggling with the bad habit of procrastination. Looking back on my 6th grade year in English class, I can see that I have developed into both a stronger writer and reader. Last year, my writing lacked quality. Now that I have learned better writing techniques, I can become a more exceptional writer as I get older. I would have never been able to write this well without the help of Ms.Cernera.