Doing Time by Rob Thomas
Doing Time by Rob Thomas is an unusual piece of adolescent literature that maybe too controversial to study in a classroom. It is unusual in the way that each paragraphis its own story-line about a different student's experiences during community servicehours. At first it is hard to pick up that the perspective has changed, but a few chaptersin I realized that the first paragraph was a set up for the rest of them. I believe that this isa great book because of its true-to-life quality and excellent writing, but there are sometopics, words, and situations that may cause it to be unfit to be taught in certain schools This book is a good example of adolescent literature because it addresses issuesthat are experienced by and pertinent to the age group (I am thinking high school juniorsand seniors). Several of the Havighurst development
Doing Timerepresents many situations, backgrounds, and perspectives. Thomas succeeds because he not only creates a book that is developmentallyappropriate, but he is correct in assessing the mind-sets and attitudes of high schoolseniors. Doing Time wouldbe good to teach because it can open the door to great discussions, writing topics, andcritical thinking based on the characters, the characters situations, and how thosesituations are managed. I am only playing the devil's advocate and thinking what parents mayview as acceptable or unacceptable. Some people may be offended by f**k appearing inthe text, especially private schools. Some may also be offended by Grant's rejection ofNadia because of her cultural norms. I enjoyed reading it and I think high-schoolers would as well. These characters give an opportunity to have a first-hand experience of social class andits effects on people. Andrewin "Loss of Pet" is "notoriously dramatic" and says things like "You go, girl," (20, 25). While some of the characters do not succeed in the task of acquiring moremature social skills, the goal of the project is to help the students mature while assumingmembership in the community by performing their 200 hours community service projects. Now, I myself do not see the questionable parts of the book as outweighing thegood components of the book. The chapter with Nadia made me rethink what I reallywant from a guy. I do, however, think it could be a good book toteach. The characters deal with developing a personal ideology and ethical stance, which ishighlighted by the individual characters' situations.
Common topics in this essay:
Rob Thomas,
Loss Pet,
Ten Pins,
Dwight Laser,
Box Nine,
Shacks Mansions,
Jill Lifeline,
adolescent literature,
characters' situations,
community service,
writing topics,
situations characters,
,
|
Acceptance Essays
