Monday, November 2, 2009

A Very Special Episode of "Korean Eighth Graders Write the Darndest Things!"

Assignment: write a critique of the story "The Treasure of Lemon Brown" from the perspective of the article "Homeless in America."  (Basically: is the story's portrayal of Lemon Brown, a homeless character, realistic?)

"In the last part, Lemon Brown said that he'll be moving to East St. Louis so he could be safe from the thugs who are trying to hurt him.  It's unknown how he'll move and why moving to East St. Louis rather than any other places.  Homeless people wouldn't have money for expensive transportation unless they manage to hide inside an empty backpack, hitchhike, or hijack a vehicle."

"He picks [food] out of the trash sometimes, but he doesn't seem weak from hunger.  Either he gets a lot of good food from the trash or it's just not real."

"I wonder how he [Lemon Brown] ate, how he washed, and how he slept because in the story it did not tell about Lemon Brown's supplies like toothbrush, sleeping bag."

"I researched in google and it says that the most reason homeless people doesn't leave their place is that other people might steal their seats."

2 comments:

  1. Notes from a witness for the defense:

    The first para is perfectly reasonable except for the word "backpack". I have no idea why he chose that word (you might ask him), but if you assume he meant something like a railroad freight car, it all makes sense.

    The second para is reasonable as is.

    So is para three.

    The last para is absolutely right except for the use of "seats" instead of "spots".

    So what is so bizarre here?

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  2. In regard to the last statement, that is basically why I don't leave my place either. It is hard to find good seats in this economy.

    Sounds like things with the kids are going well! :-)

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