Fictional Characters

1.a. Long Duk Dong from Sixteen Candles is an asian foreign exchange student. Some people believe that he is the most offensive asian stereotype to ever be created by Hollywood. He speaks in a conversational accent and attempts to use terms such as "hot stuff". Most Americans have probably seen Sixteen Candles or at least another John Hughes movie such as The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (I love those movie!) which also contain stereotypes. His movies have shaped American culture and have shaped people's ideas of the typical suburban teenager.

1.b. Barbie is a toy that everyone in America knows. She is also possibly the most controversial toy that America knows. With a 36-inch chest and a 18 inch waist, critics feel that Barbie gives a bad image to young girls saying that they have to be skinny to be pretty. In 1972, the Mattel company had to change Barbie's look from a 'demure' sideways glance to the current, more simple look and in 1992 the company enlarged Barbie's waist. Some think that Barbie is misunderstood however, and that she is only meant to be a toy.

2. One of my favorite TV shows is The O.C. (but not season 4). On the show, Adam Brody plays Seth Cohen, a nerd who I think is actaully really cool and adorable. He breaks the stereo-type that a nerd is uncool and anti-social as he gains friends throughout the show and has made girls all over America fall in love with "the nerd". He is important to our society beacause he reshapes the stereotype of the typical high school nerd and makes people think twice about labeling people.

Stories :)

Stories are important in childhood because they allow children's imaginations to grow. Kids are able to learn form the morals of stories and better themselves. Having stories read to you as a child makes everyday a little more fun. Kids also learn howto readby having stories read to them.

When people get older, they still read stories but to themselves instead. People read stories for entertainment purposes and to broaden their horizons or deepen their thinking. Older readers can also learn fromthe morals or just escape from reality to the worlds of fiction for awhile (not that little kids don't do this too).

Stories are important in our nation because almost everyone is literate whereas other countries sometimes have extremely low literacy rates. America also has the right of free speech, so you can publish anything that you want to. Publishing your ideas and thoughts is a powerful tool of persuasion in America. Stories help a writer get a point across to their audience, the readers. America also has a lot of respect for authors and scholars.

When I was little I read the Berenstein Bears, the Little House on the Prairie books, and many others. I read these with my mom and when I was old enought to read them, I read them to my brother, even if he didn't want to hear them. My favorite of all time was Amelia Bedelia. She always did everything wrong and every single time, even though I knew what was going to happen, I found it hilarious.

Good Story Characteristics
1. Universal theme that can apply to all generations
2. Characters a person can relate to and feel like they know
3. A well-developed conflict
4. A hero who the reader can side with
5. Cliffhangers and foreshadowing
6. Details and imagery
7. It makes the reader think about life in depth or is funny