Non-Fiction Critical Analysis

          The article "Substance Abuse and Homelessness" by the National Coalition for the Homeless wants us to know that a large amount of homeless people suffer with substance abuse and need special treatment and therapy in order to defeat it.  One thing that the National Coalition for the Homeless does is they quote Didenko and Pankratz to show how substance abuse is “a cause and a result for homelessness.”  The National Coalition for the Homeless also quotes Fisher and Roget to portray how homeless people have difficulties recovering from drugs.  Lastly the National Coalition for Homeless quotes the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health to show the amount of homeless people using drugs in a certain length of time.  These examples demonstrate the relationship between homeless people and substance abuse.

    The National Coalition for the Homeless persuade you that substance abuse is more of a result than a cause.  They achieve this by saying that homeless people frequently “turn to drugs and alcohol” to manage with their surroundings.  The National Coalition for the Homeless quote Didenko and Pankratz, “additionally, some people may view drug and alcohol use as necessary to be accepted among the homeless community.” Finally, the National Coalition for the Homeless say that, “in reality, however, substance dependence only exacerbates their problems and decreases their ability to achieve employment stability and get off the streets.”

  The National Coalition for the Homeless has persuaded me that substance abuse is more of a result than a cause.  They quoted several people to support their opinion.  In conclusion substance abuse is a result of homelessness.

                    

Reading Response On "Pay It Forward"

             In the book "Pay It Forward" by Catherine Ryan Hyde the message is that people have the ability to change themselves and the world around them.  "Pay It Forward" is about how a twelve year old boy, named Trevor McKinney takes on a challenge to create a plan to change the world, that his social studies teacher Reuben, gives his class.  Trevor's plan is to do a nice deed for three people and ask them to "pay it forward to three others who need assistance in their life.  He imagines an immense motion of sympathy spreading from his town in California to around the world.  I believe that justice is served in this story in several ways.
            For Trevor, justice is served towards the end of the book.  First, Trevor helps three people, Jerry, Ms. Greenberg, and Reuben his social studies teacher.  He asks these three people to pay it forward, but Jerry ends up being in jail, Ms. Greenberg dies, and Reuben fails to pay it forward.  Trevor becomes miserable and thinks he didn't do anything right.  Trevor thinks "what if the world really changed because of my project? Wouldn't that be the coolest thing?"  Then his plan really does work, and Trevor doesn't know, until a reporter finds and tells him about it happening in different places across the world. Reuben and his mom are both lonely and Trevor thought Reuben would pay it forward by getting married to his mom and that eventually this happens.  When they tell Trevor they're engaged Trevor jumps up and down and screams "Yes! I knew it.  I told you!"  Next, after Ms. Greenberg passes away she asks three people to pay it forward in her will.  She accomplishes her deed and this spreads through LA to Chicago.  Once Jerry gets out of jail, he too spreads it forward.  Justice is served for Trevor because his plan ends up being a success and everybody is helping each other.
         For Reuben, justice is served close to the end of this story.  In the beginning, Reuben is lonely and is a new social studies teacher at this middle school.  He decides to give his class a challenge to come up with a plan to change the world.  Trevor, one of students chats with him everyday after school talking about his plan.  Reuben ends up loving this kid.  When Trevor sets up his mom Arlene and Reuben on a date, Reuben thinks this child is crazy.  Reuben then realizes that him and Arlene are alike, they are both defensive and stubborn.  Trevor ends up helping Reuben not be alone.  Reuben and Arlene end up being engaged and then when Ricky Trevor's real father comes back to their house Reuben leaves and Arlene realizes she made a mistake.  Arlene kicks Ricky out and goes over to Reuben's house and she says "I know you don't forgive me, Reuben. I don't expect you to. But some little part of you must miss me, right? God knows I miss you."  Then Reuben forgives her and they get back together and get married.  Justice is served for Reuben because he finally gets a family and becomes happy.
           "Pay It Forward" by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a story about Trevor McKinney, a boy who gets assigned a challenge in his social studies class to make a plan to change the world.  At the end of the book he gets invited to the white house and meets the president with his mom Arlene and Reuben.  When he's in Washington D.C. he tries to help two men getting beaten up by two other men, but Trevor ends up getting stabbed and when he and his mom and Reuben get to the hospital they tell him he's in critical condition and they have to do a surgery on him.  After surgery, Trevor passes away the day before his fourteenth birthday.  There is a funeral and twenty thousand people come to honor Trevor.People keep on paying it forward, even after Trevor is gone. In conclusion humans have the power to make the world a better place.