Compare and Contrast Steve and Osvaldo

Steve Harmon and Osvaldo Cruz are both juveniles. Steve is sixteen and Osvaldo is 14. Steve is more of a quiet person with a bad reputation that wouldn't do such bad things all the time. Osvaldo is the kind of person who is in a gang and had to cut someone with a knife in the face. Osvaldo isn't scared of anybody, because he has a gang that will back him up. He picks on people that don't have a gang to protect them.
In my opinion I think Steve should be on trial. He is older and he was more involved in the crime. He was in the building during the crime and he helped plan the crime as well. I think they let Osvaldo "walk" because he is only fourteen and probably doesn't look like he would do such a thing. He also wasn't involved as much. He was outside during the crime and he didn't help plan it.

Monster 89-98

Steve wants to tell O'Brien who he really is. He wants to just open up to her, but he never does. He is scared of the people in jail. He is scared of the guards. Steve is young enough to be a student yet. He could be the one in school. The one staring back at the prisoner on the other side of it could be him. He isn't even old enough to be an adult.

Crime Scene Investigation

James King and Steve plan the crime on 144th street.
They decide that they should rob an illegal immigrant or someone with a green card.
Steve goes into the drugstore to see if the coast is clear.
King and Bobo enter the store to rob for money.
Nesbitt pulls a gun to protect himself.
There is a struggle and Nesbitt ends up dead.
King and Bobo were the two that struggled with him.
Jose comes back to the store and finds Nesbitt's body.
He calls the police.
Bobo sells cigarettes to Bolden.
Bolden tells Zinzi about the cigarettes that he bought.
Bolden and Zinzi use the information about the crime to lessen their charge and get out of prison.
Osvaldo Cruz accepts the plea bargain and testifies for the prosecution.
Steve and King are questioned and ultimately charged with felony and murder.
At the crime scene, no clear fingerprints are found on the register or the counter.
Detectives are relying only on testimonies for their information about the crime scene from Jose, Bobo, and Osvaldo Cruz.

Opening Statements

Petrocelli is trying to make Steve and King look bad. Shes says that they are monsters and should be locked up. O'Brien states that the law protects all of society even the accused killers. She also states that there is a reasonable doubt that Steve did it. Briggs says that Petrocelli's witnesses are self serving, heartless people. Briggs is trying to make Petrocelli and her witnesses look bad.
If I was in Steve's shoes, I would probably be like him. I would be scared of my future. I would be scared of what was going to happen to me. My life would be down in the dumps and I would be crying in my cell. I would probably want the death penalty, so I didn't have to spend the rest of my life in jail. I wouldn't think that I belonged there. I wouldn't know who I was. I couldn't bear it.

Monster

Steve Harmon-Main character, on trial for murder

Ernie-sits on the john with his pants down

Sunset- another prisoner, likes to sleep

Sandra Petrocelli- as the dedicated prosecutor

Kathy O’Brien as the defense attorney with doubts

James king- STRAIGHT UP G>as the thug

Richard “Bobo” Evans- as the rat

Osvaldo Cruz, and members of the Diablos- Tough Guy Wannabe

Lorelle Henry- as the Witness

Jose Delgado- Found the body

It starts off with Steve in his cell with his cellmates. He has his hands over his head and his suit and tie that he wears for court next to him on the cot. It starts his movie off with his breakfast that he doesn't eat. Then, he gets a ride to the courthouse in a van. In the courtroom O'Brien tells Steve what is happening in the court and proper courtroom etiquette. Then the case starts with the prosecution and defense getting ready and the jury coming in.

Steve: The Monster

Steve's inner conflict is that he doesn't think that he should be in prison. He doesn't know who he is right now. When he looks at himself in the mirror, he doesn't recognize himself. Now, he cries at nights. He doesn't see himself as one of the prisoners. Jail isn't normal to him; its not his reality. At least that's what he thinks.
I know a guy who has inner conflict. His name is Jace Christensen. He came and talked to us the other day. He is in the construction field and he has two job offers. He is not sure which one to pick. He has to decide by Friday.

Where I'm From

I am from Crest Toothpaste that rests on the counter

and pots and pans rattling in the kitchen.

I am from the cozy,

sweet and warm feel of my home.

I am from the hay in the barn.

The maple tree

whose long gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

I’m from showing cattle and playing sports

and from Jon and Lisa.

I’m from eating spaghetti and sleeping in

and from about every sport known to man.

I’m from Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny

and Go tell it on the mountain.

I’m from decorating the Christmas tree and seeing the Christmas bulbs stare back at me

I’m from Carroll, Iowa and Germany.

The juicy steak and the tender roast

From the time my mom glued her fingers together

and she was at it for half an hour.

From these little boots made of clay that were painted by my great grandmother

That sit on a shelf on the wall

From these little memories

That’s where I’m from

Walter Dean Meyers: An Inspiring Story

Walter Dean Meyers purpose for writing is to inspire kids. In today's society you have to know how to read fluently. So, he writes books to make kids want to read. If the can read, they will be successful. He writes about the cities and about the streets of Harlem and other big cities. He writes about these settings so kids can make connections to his stories. He also writes about them to show the neighborhoods and the culture in big cities. Also, he wants people to see what problems city kids face. He was given away and had to live in the poor side of Harlem.

Should Juveniles be Charged as Adults?

I believe that children should be tried as adults in some cases. If they are a threat to our society, then they should be taken out of our society. If they have previous offenses for doing major things, then I think that they should be tried as adults. If the juveniles have a violent nature of their crimes, then we should charge them as adults. However, younger teenager's brains aren't fully developed yet. So, I think they should do some check-ups or background checks before charging a juvenile.