Recently my class and I read a short story called "A l is Calm." It is basically about this girl named Katherine and her grandma who is suffering from the Alzheimer's disease. It starts out as this: Katherine's grandma has to be taken to the doctor because she has an appointment, but everyone is so busy, that Katherine is asked to take her grandma to the doctors. Katherine is sort of selfish at that point, cause she doesn't really understand the situation her grandma is in. They go to the bus, and when Katherine and her grandma enter it, Katherine's grandma starts singing christmas carols, Katherine feels embarrased, and feels really awkward. All the other people in the bus just stop and stare at them. When Katherine's grandma comes to her senses, she clutches Katherine's hand, but katherine feels so embarrased and uncomfortable by this, that she tries to untangle her hand from her grandma's. As her grandma starts talking about baking Katherine's favourite sweets for her when they reach home, Katherine feels that love, and is almost about to cry. When the bus stops, and they are near the doctor's office, Katherine's grandma suddenly loses her senses and is does not recognize Katherine. Katherine tries to explain to her grandma that she can't be late for her appointment and that she is Katherine her grand daughter, but she is still unable to remember. Katherine's grandma says rude things to Katherine such as " What a nasty little girl, trying to make me her grandma, etc. Katherine's anger starts rising towards her grandma but then she remembers that, its not her grandma speaking to her in such a cruel way, it is the disease. Katherine tries hard to take her grandma out of the bus, but it does not work. Kevin, who Katherine believes to be a stranger is in the bus, and he comes to help Katherine take her grandma out of the bus. Katherine knows Kevin cause he is in several of her classes and he is a class clown and a jock, Katherine is not his type. She says she does not need his help, but he lends a hand anyways. He is gentle with Katherine's grandma and takes her out of the bus, he even brings Katherine's grandma to her senses and she recognizes Katherine again. Katherine realizes that she misjudged Kevin and he even tells her that his father is suffering from the same disease so he knows how she feels. Katherine begins to realize a lot of things. Most importantly she begins to realize the importance of her grandma in her life. They are about to enter the doctor's office, until katherine's grandma stops and stares at these oranges. katherine feels really sad at that point, cause her grandma is wondering what they are. Katherine can't control her emotions and runs up to hug her grandma. She says I love you to her grandma at the very ending.
It was a sad story.
I'm actually supposed to write a composition on this story, and I will post it on here, can you please edit it, thanks. Basically this composition is about katherine being a dynamic character. ~ She changes throughout the story.
This is how she is in the beginning, during and end of the story:
Beginning:
-impatient
-embarrased
-no understanding
-unsure of how to react
-selfish
-narrow-minded
-shocked
-uncomfortable
-angry
-worried
During:
-worried
-frustrated
-overwhelmed
-realization of seriousness
-self-pity
-reluctant
-sad
-nervous
-anxiety
-surprised
End:
-reassured
-understanding
-relieved
-comforted
-thankful
-patient
-acceptance
-open-minded
-hopeful
This is how we are supposed to write a composition:
First there is supposed to be a Delayed Thesis, then Topic Sentence, and then lastly : Plan of Organization
If you have any other ideas for a good delayed Thesis, then please feel free to post them on here.
Composition:
We must give importance to all the
people around us, because we never
know how long they will remain by our
side. Katherine, the protagonist
of “All is Calm”, by Ann Walsh, is a
dynamic character. Through time, she
begins to realize her grandma’s
importance in her life. Katherine goes
through grief and happiness throughout
the story. She develops an
understanding about life and learns
from her mistake. At the beginning of
the story; Katherine feels as if she
has a burden laid on herself when she
is asked to take her grandma to the
doctor’s. She is unsure of how to
react when her grandma goes out of her
senses and starts “singing” She feels
embarrassed.
Katherine does not understand her
grandma’s situation, she actually
feels uncomfortable when her
grandma “[clutches] at [her] hand.”
Katherine tries to “untangle her hand
from her grandma. Katherine feels sad
when her grandma at last comes to her
senses and acts ‘real’. Katherine’s
grandma “[is] back”, and
Katherine “want’[s] to cry.”
Moreover, Katherine receives help from
Kevin, who she recalls to be a
stranger, {but she later notices the
fact} -this is not a good ending for
this sentence, any suggestions on how
I could change and make it more
appropriate?
Katherine feels thankful to Kevin,
because he helps take her grandma out
of the bus. She misjudges him at
first, and later on realizes her
mistake. She “remembers how patient
and good [he] was with her
grandmother.”
Therefore, each individual should be
able to realize the importance of
one’s loved ones in one’s life.
This is a very long page, so maybe it would be easier to follow everything by printing it out~ just a suggestion, thanks for all your help:-)
wow great job
ITS DAT BOIIII
Title: The Transformation of Katherine in "All is Calm"
Delayed Thesis: The short story "All is Calm" by Ann Walsh portrays Katherine as a dynamic character who undergoes a significant transformation, evolving from a self-centered and impatient girl to an understanding and compassionate young woman.
Topic Sentence: At the beginning of the story, Katherine lacks empathy and struggles to comprehend her grandmother's condition, leading to moments of embarrassment and discomfort.
Plan of Organization:
1. Katherine's initial reaction and lack of understanding
- Feelings of impatience and embarrassment on the bus
- Unwillingness to accept her grandmother's behavior
- Selfishness and attempts to distance herself from her grandmother
2. The turning point and realization of the seriousness of Alzheimer's disease
- Katherine's awakening to her grandmother's true situation
- Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with the challenges
- Self-pity and moments of sadness as she grapples with the reality of the disease
3. The shift towards acceptance and empathy
- The encounter with Kevin, who provides assistance and understanding
- Katherine's newfound appreciation for Kevin and his kindness
- Beginning to comprehend the impact of Alzheimer's on her grandmother and others
4. The final transformation and lessons learned
- Katherine's emotional moment when her grandmother fails to recognize oranges
- The rush of emotions leading to an outpouring of love and acceptance
- Katherine's growth into a patient, open-minded, and grateful individual
Conclusion:
Katherine's journey in "All is Calm" illustrates the importance of valuing our loved ones while their presence is still with us. Through her experiences, she learns the significance of empathy and understanding, ultimately becoming a more compassionate person. The story serves as a reminder for readers to cherish those around them and appreciate the resilience of the human spirit in the face of difficult situations.
Title: The Transformation of Katherine: A Journey of Understanding and Appreciation
Delayed Thesis: Throughout the short story "All is Calm," Katherine undergoes a profound transformation from a self-centered and ignorant teenager to a compassionate and understanding individual, as she gradually comprehends the importance of her grandmother in her life.
Topic Sentence: At the beginning of the story, Katherine is depicted as an impatient and embarrassed girl who fails to grasp her grandmother's condition, resulting in her uncomfortable and narrow-minded reactions.
Plan of Organization:
1. Katherine's initial lack of understanding
- Impatience and embarrassment when asked to take her grandmother to the doctor's appointment
- Unease and disbelief when her grandmother starts singing on the bus
- Attempting to untangle her hand from her grandmother's, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable
2. A shift towards realization and empathy
- Feeling a surge of love from her grandmother, almost bringing her to tears
- Struggling to deal with her grandmother's deteriorating memory and rude remarks due to the disease
- The realization that her grandmother's behavior is a result of the illness, prompting understanding and sympathy
3. The transformative impact of Kevin's assistance
- Kevin's unexpected help in getting Katherine's grandmother out of the bus
- Initially misjudging him due to preconceived notions
- Recognizing Kevin's patience and kindness towards her grandmother, leading to a change in perception
4. Epiphany and newfound appreciation
- Acknowledging the uncertainty of life and the importance of loved ones
- The poignant moment when her grandmother fails to recognize oranges and Katherine's emotional reaction
- The final expression of love towards her grandmother, signifying her growth and understanding
Conclusion: Katherine's journey from impatience and embarrassment to understanding and appreciation emphasizes the significance of treasuring the people in our lives, as we never know how long we will have them beside us. This transformation serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize our loved ones and cherish the time we have together.
I think you summarized the story, but did not indicate much change. You told what K did.
Here is my point: How did K feel? How did K grow (in what ways)?
I think if I were you, I would forget about retelling the story, your teacher surely would be bored with that, but put yourself into K, and describe how she sees events, and how it makes her grow stronger.