Michael Nelson Graphic Organizer ch.7-8

Journal 2 ch.5-8

Scratch Beginnings: 4/30/2010

In Chapters 5-8 Adam spent most of his time trying to find a job. This proved to be a difficult task until he meets Phil Coleman who encourages him to be more assertive. Adam decides to take a different route with getting a job and goes to speak directly with Curtis, the manager of Fast Company. After giving Curtis his whole speech about being the best man for the job, he is hired. We felt Phil’s point about being more assertive could apply to just about anyone trying to get a job. Most managers find that this trait is a positive one to have for employees and is most likely going to help someone get hired for a job because it gives the manager the idea that they really value the work.

One surprising thing we found was how accepting the church was of all the homeless men showing up at the mass baptism. They didn’t seem to mind that a whole group of them arrived and started eating all the food. The people from the church even encourage the men to get baptized while they were there. People were even nice enough to offer some of the men a place to live, but the men rarely took advantage of such offers.

Another thing we found interesting was how many of the men make money just by donating plasma every week. We were surprised that the clinics didn’t mind that they were taking donations from a bunch of men off the streets. We also thought it was odd that the clinic just took Adam’s word for not have been taking drugs and all that, something many homeless men are involved with.

We thought it was interesting that for some of the men cigarettes became a form of currency. Adam, someone who never smoked, bought a pack of cigarettes hoping to gain from trading. Even though he didn’t gain as much as he wanted from trading the cigarettes he found that it was a good way to meet many of the men at the shelter.

The resident known as “Hustle Man” was someone we found very interesting. He knew heroin was killing him, but he had no plans of quitting because he loved it. Also, even though he was a heavy drug user, Adam felt that he was one of the most ambitious guys he had met. What we found most surprising, though, was how easy it was for him to quit using heroin just because it was costing him too much.

At the beginning of chapter eight Adam talks about how repulsive the shelter is, but that he realizes that it is almost done on purpose. It gives the men a place to stay, but at the same time they still have the desire to move foreword with their lives. This was something we really didn’t consider at first, thinking that a shelter should be welcoming to the homeless. Shepard makes a good point, as it is only a shelter and not a home. Dictionary.com defines a shelter as “building serving as a temporary refuge or residence for homeless persons...” It only makes sense that the shelter would be repulsive, it meant to be temporary and if it gave the men all the luxuries of a home then they would never feel that they should try to get out and back on their feet.

Chris Summary Ch. 7-8

Shepard beings chapter 7 by meeting with his caseworker. He spends much of the time in the chapter relating James' story about how he ended up in the homeless shelter. The chapter ends after Shepard speaks to Phil Coleman and decides to take Phil's advice about being more proactive about getting a job. At the beginning of the chapter Shepard is more worried about what he is going to do about a job and how his efforts to get hired have not had any success yet. By the end of the chapter Shepard has a very optimistic outlook and is looking forward to using Phil's advice to get a job at Fast Company.

Chapter 8 begins with Shepard going to Fast Company and confronting Curtis just like Phil Coleman told him to, which succeeds in getting him hired as a driver at Fast Company. After being hired Shepard spends his Sunday working for George again pulling weeds and then he has a conversation with a homeless man named Leo. Leo tells Shepard about the different kinds of people and how some people need to wake up and start doing things for themselves. The chapter ends with Shepard looking forward to his new job at Fast Company. The chapter begins with Shepard being very excited, first about his new method of trying to get a job, and then about getting a job. He remains more optimistic throughout the chapter and through his conversation with Leo. At the end of the chapter Shepard seems very relaxed after his job hunting experience and is looking forward to starting his new job.

Tyler Johnson Vocab Ch. 7-8

Skeptical- having doubt
Atypical- not typical, not conforming to the type
Swagger- to walk or strut with a defiant
Splurge- to show off
Synonymous- having the character of synonymous; equivalent in meaning
Eradicate- to remove or destroy utterly
Taut- same, identical
Repulsive- capable of causing repulsion
Complacent- pleaded
Piqued- to affect with sharp irritation and resentment

Tyler Johnson Summary Ch. 5-6

In chapters 5-6 Adam has the ambition to go on a job hunt. He starts out on Sunday doing a job that he has arranged with a guy he meet at a construction site. Then after he meets up with Marco and they go on a job search. They find a carwash hiring at $6.50 an hour. Thinking that it is not enough Adam uses that as his back-up plan, and heads back to the shelter. Adam gets up Monday to go on yet another job search, he hears of a place hiring people on the spot at $8.00 an hour. It takes him time to find the place, and when he gets there he is disappointed that he has to fill out another application. That night Adam sees his first drug deal and it hits him how bad these things are.

This part seemed to jump around a bit. I had a hard time trying to keep up with what was going on. He would be taken about the present, then flash to the future and come back to the present. I felt that these were some badly written chapters.

Michael Nelson Vocab ch.5-6

Odyssey-a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune.

Finagled-to obtain by indirect or involved means.

Monotony-tedious sameness.

Ulterior-being beyond what is seen or avowed; intentionally kept concealed.

Psychosis-fundamental derangement of the mind characterized by defective or lost contact with reality especially as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior.

Rampant-marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint.

Finesse-refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture.

Altruism-unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.

Centrifuge-a machine using centrifugal force for separating substances of different densities, for removing moisture, or for simulating gravitational effects.

Epiphany-a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something.

Chris Discussion Ch. 5-6

1) Why did the homeless men choose not to take advantage of the charitable offers at the mass baptism?

They do not take advantage of the offers because the offers will not help them. At this point in their lives they are not self-motivated enough to lift themselves out of poverty. A stranger giving them a free ride would not help teach them how to be self-sufficient. Shepard states "They they needed repetition to get out."

2)Why was Shepard so surprised that one of the homeless men was selling crack?

Shepard is completely surprised by the fact that one of the homeless men was selling crack during one of the smoke breaks at Crisis Ministries. He says he was "...remorseful and angry and, for some reason, guilty..."Shepard's life before this experiment was so far removed from drugs that he did not fully realize that there would be drugs at the homeless shelter until he actually saw them.

3)Why does Shepard include the paragraph about his smell at the end of the section about the mass baptism?

He probably includes this paragraph to make the point that he does not do such artificial things like pretending to get in on the baptism just to rinse off in the water. This could be foreshadowing to a future event in the book where he does something artificial and it causes problems for him. He also may have put this paragraph in because his smell was something that he was overly concerned with at this point in the story.

4)Why does Shepard say that the availability of jobs is irrelevant to him?

By saying this Shepard is saying that the current state of the job market or the economy is not his concern. He is saying that he is not in a position to take time to worry about those things. The only thing he has time for is finding a job and making money because he is so deep in poverty now.

Tyler Johnson-Discussion Leader Ch. 3-4

1)Was Adam Shepard’s argument with the owner of the baby clothing store an important part of his journey?
It makes a major impact on his story. It makes him see that he will not be able just to lay low through this experience. He must speak up for himself or he will not be able to get through his.

2)Was the decision of becoming a roommate with Marco a good or bad idea? Do you think it will happen?
I do believe that he will have Marco as a roommate. This is going to turn out to be a good decision as he will be able to go through being homeless with someone. It could possible turnout bad as they seem to have not spent much time together.

3)Should Adam have taken more time to try to explain to Larry that his plan will not work?
He should have taken time to get Larry’s attention. He is likely to fail in the payments of his apartment and end up in the shelter again. This will leave his depressed and more unlikely to get out of the shelter.

4)Should Adam have given up on Easy Labor and take his time in finding a permanent job?
I think that he should take the time to get a permanent job. An example of why he should do it is one day when he worked his whole day and only came out with $14. He should also take time to find a job that will give him benefits as in the end of chapter 4 he meet a guy that lost his job, because he had no medical insurance and was hit by a drunk driver.

Michael Nelson-Summary ch.3-4

1) Chapter three begins at the start of his second day at the shelter. The men are being kicked out without breakfast because none of them chose to clean the floors. Shepard then goes on about all the new things he is taught about the shelter at his orientation. After orientation and his TB test he goes out to look for a job for a good part of the day, but with no success. At dinner he talks about how he becomes one of the “in” guys at the shelter and begins making friends. On the next day, Friday, he goes to work at a construction site which he seems to enjoy and plans on returning Sunday. The next day Shepard works at a baby clothes store which ends up being a terrible experience. The men were treated poorly and received very little pay. He lashes out at the owner of the store and decides that from then on he would be himself and always say what he thought. When He gets back to the shelter he and Marco decide to team up and become roommates when they have the money. Later, Larry tells him he got a job and he will be moving out the next week. Shepard doesn’t like his decision but Larry ignores him. The chapter ends with him looking foreword to Sunday at the construction site.

2) Shepard usually writes with a positive tone. He is often looking foreward to one thing or another. For the first time in the book, in chapter 4 the tone becomes very negative and angry because of his experience at the baby clothes store. He generally presents the men at the shelter as good people. The people they work for are often explained negatively, he often calls them lazy or careless, but the baby clothes store owner is the first he truly seemed to dislike.

Journal 1 Intro-Ch. 4

Scratch Beginnings: April 23, 2010

The book of Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard has many different twists and turns. He has a few different assumptions when he is starting the book off. He assumes that it is possible to become a self-made man starting out with only $25 and the clothes on his back. He also assumes that many people are getting lazy; they are not trying and giving themselves the ability to succeed. He did not expect to have amenities that were indeed available at the shelter. Lastly he assumes that this will be a difficult experience but possible.

One of the most surprising things about the book was a police officer by the name of Sergeant Mendoza or Sarg by many of the residents. He is surprisingly caring for them, as he wants to make sure that they do not have alcohol of drugs on the premises, he also wants to help them get out of the shelter and onto a new life. His presence at the shelter also keeps many of the men at the shelter honest, as they know he will not shy away from taking them down to jail. Another surprising aspect of this book is how friendly the people of the homeless shelter are. Many try to help him out and give him advice on what to do when he is kicked from the shelter. One of the guys, Marco, after only two days wanted to become roommates with him.

Another interesting part of this book is that he his mostly enjoying himself through this experience. He makes it seem not that bad of a struggle. One example would be at the end of many chapters, he states many different things that are looking up for him. At the end of chapter two he states that he has a plan that he is going to put into action, and he cannot wait to start it.

One of the most important parts of the book is his experience with the fat woman who owns a baby cloths store. During the course of his work with her, she treats him and his coworkers like crap, giving him the picture that they are thought as useless people. After being dismissed from work and an hour wait for the van he heads back into the store to ask if he could use the phone. After being denied he goes on a rant calling out all of the mistreatment that she placed on them. After this rant he decides to change the way he is going about his journey. He decides that he will not keep a low profile, but be himself and say what he is thinking.

The author states that he will not use any source in his book, he is just going to tell it as he experiences it. This technique gives the book an interesting point of view, as many research projects do not give a personal experience. This gives the reader a much better idea of what being homeless is. The information will also not be distorted, as it is a first hand experience, he not taking it from one source and putting it into his book.

One striking difference to that which most people are used to is the lack of longer term personal and financial planning. Unlike many of our lives, the people in the book hold jobs for a few days or sometimes one day. The same is true with the living situation where we see Adam and Marco deciding to live together after knowing each other for a matter of days. Most college students typically do not make such a decision for example after knowing each other for months or years. This short-term mentality is also evident in their budgeting. Instead of planning for future years we see them planning for future days or weeks.

Michael Nelson-Discussion Leader intro-ch.2

1) After reading the introduction, how is this book meant to encourage others?

Shepard’s intent with this book is to teach people that the American dream still exists. He is trying to encourage people to work their hardest because he believes that in the end it will all pay off. At the end of the introduction he mentions that the audience is meant to be anyone who has basically ever doubted the American dream, hinting to them that the dream is not lost.

2) What is important about Shepard’s statement about wanting to have a friend during his journey on p.22?

As Shepard stated, he probably could go through his journey without companions, but he simply didn’t want to. Having a friend with him on his journey would only make it easier and more interesting. He like most people doesn’t want to struggle through life alone. Having a friend to share experiences with gives everything more meaning.

3) What is the importance of Shepard’s statement about all the men at the shelter having their own story on p.25?

It is a way for all of the men to relate to each other. It sort of gives a feeling that they are all in it together as equals. The stories also show how much the men have struggled through life, something Shepard didn’t really seem to know at first.

4) What is the significance of Shepard’s statement at the end of ch.2?

It shows how much his situation has changed in just one day. The reader already has a sense that Shepard’s goal is achievable. It also ends the chapter giving the idea that the journey has only begun and he has a lot mor to go through, but he has hope for success.

Vocab. for Chapters 3&4

I wasn't able to find amny difficult vocabulary words for this reading. I was able to find three:

Nightcap: A usually alcoholic drink taken just before bedtime.

Feasible: Capable of being done or carried out.

Demeaningly: In a form meant to lower character, status, or opinion.

Chris- Graphic Organizer ch 3-4

Shepard starts ch 3 not really knowing any of the other homeless men and spends a day applying for jobs in downtown Charleston. By the end of ch 3 he is accepted by the other homeless men and they teach him some things about being homeless. In ch4 he is treated badly by the owner of the baby store they spend a day working at and Shepard begins to fall into the mindset of a homeless man. He starts looking the things he can and cannot do as a result of his financial situation.

Chris-Vocab Ch1-2

1. Lethargy (pg 1): inactivity; showing an unusual lack of activity.
2. stiffs (pg 3): an average person with no particular skill, distinction, or education.
3. sublimely (pg 3): completely: in a lofty and exalted manner.
4. Murphy's Law (pg 8): anything that can go wrong will.
5. superfluous (pg 9): excess; more than is necessary.
6. scabies (pg 15): contagious skin infection caused by mites.
7. immaculate (pg 20): completely neat and clean.
8. Primordial (pg 31): first, earliest or plentiful.
9. abounding (pg 36): be abundant or plentiful.
10. amphetamines (pg 31): psycho-stimulant drug that can produce euphoria, wakefulness, increased physical activity.

Tyler Johnson Intro-Chapter 2

Introduction

There are many different reasons for one to read our book Scratch Beginnings, it may be an interest in the subject, it may be because of past volunteering and community service in the field, or it may simply be to see whether or not Adam Shepherd, the main character of the book is actually able to attain his goal. His goal in the book is to start out in a new and unfamiliar city with $25 in cash and very little personal belongings. The rest--a car, a house, and whatever he may need to live he is to get by working. He devoted one year of his life to this challenge, which is largely a rebuttal to the works of Barbara Erenreich.

Most of us have had a very rudimentary knowledge of the subject, it is something that everyone has basic knowledge of but lacks the substantial details. Homeless shelters and the plight of our modern poor are something that we have largely relegated to passing glances as we are commuting daily to school or work. In reading this book, we are given a detailed and deep look into the lives of the people affected by poverty and the struggles that befall them. We are given a look into the daily life and struggle of living a day-by-day-lifestyle. We all hope to gain an interesting knowledge through this book that will give us a different look at the subject and give us new information and a new point of view.