Describing Paragraph: Boy With Toy Hand Grenade!

The old black-and-white photo shows an approximately 10 year old boy in a city park holding a toy hand grenade. It looks like a sunny and delightful day. Even though some people are strolling around in the blurry background, the main focus is definitely on the young boy. He is standing on the pavement all by himself, under the shade of the big a tree right behind him. The boy is dressed in a rather casual way, wearing a checked shirt, dark overalls and socks which are far too big. The strap of his overalls hang awkwardly off his right shoulder and create an untidy image. His incredibly skinny arms and legs make him appear undernourished, and since his clothes are oversized this impression is intensified. His actually rather likeable and not unfriendly face is framed by short fair hair. On this photo, however, the boy’s face is contorted in a weird way. His eyes, which looked directly into the camera, are opened wide, his lips are distorted and his teeth are clenched together. The impression that this boy is desperate, tense, even slightly maniac is supported by him making this bizarre face. Additionally, his left hand is strained in a claw-like gesture and his right hand clenches the toy grenade tightly. He seems to be irritated or unsettled by something and does not look relaxed at all. The entire picture creates a rather dark atmosphere and evokes a somehow disturbing ambiguity because of several reasons. One upsetting aspect is that a boy, who should be glad enough to be able to play in a park on a wonderful, sunny day, appears to be so utterly unhappy. In addition to this, his playing with a hand grenade is somehow frightening and troubling.

Little History of Photography

Peer Feedback:

In general my classmates said that my narrative was pretty good. They mentioned, however, that it is weird that the initiating event is only revealed at the end of my story. While criticizing some spelling and punctuation mistakes or word repetitions, they still concluded that they liked my story.
I know that Inge said I had to look at the punctuation in the direct speech again, so I looked the rules up in the Oxford Dictionary and they confirmed that I actually did it the right way. I don’t know what’s the problem and therefore didn’t change anything.

Final Version:

“My dear little Brownie, when you’re ready you will be one of the most important cameras ever built,” the inventor told the box on his table one bright morning while putting the last little pieces into place. Everything had to be finished by eleven o’clock, when the presentation was going to take place.
“You know, it all started almost 80 years ago, in the early 1820s, when two Frenchmen called Niepce and Daguerre took the first photograph with their Camera Obscura. People back then thought capturing an image was some kind of magic and even thought it was blasphemy to take photographs of humans - it was ridiculous,” the old man laughed.
“Another important man was a physicist, Arago, who held a famous speech in front of the Chamber of Deputies on behalf of photography. Of course, these early technologies couldn’t compete with ours. It took ages to take a photo because of the long exposure time, and they were overly expensive. This, however, was the reason why they were so precious…well, also because each of them was unique, and they were passed on from family member to family member. You will change this, my friend. You will change photography from a luxury to something available for everyone.”
One of the inventor’s colleagues entered the small room, “The presentation starts in half an hour. Will you be ready by then?”
“Of course. Thank you, John.”
When the young man closed the door behind himself, the inventor continued, “We have to fast forward a little, my dear, otherwise you won’t be ready for your big moment. So, where was I? Ah right, it was in the 1860s that photography was becoming more popular. The first professional photography studios were established and families started to have their photographs taken. In these pictures requisites and props were used because people needed something to lean on - the exposure time was still pretty long. Eventually, after a decade or so, photography became even more popular and was seen as some kind of art and even became equal to painting. Surrealist photography started with Atget who no longer focused solely on people but also buildings, squares, or only little parts of something bigger. But you know what? Only rich people and artists had access to cameras. You will change this. You will be the first commercial camera. Now let’s go and impress my boss.” With these words the old inventor took the first Brownie ever built and left the small room with the aim to present it to the world.

[422 words]

Narrative Article Homework

Earthquake in Chile:

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/erdbeben-in-chile-zahl-der-todesopfer-steigt-auf-sechs-a-962181.html#ref=rss

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26846984

When Mrs. Miranda Collins opens the door to her little house in Chelsea, London, I can see that she has been crying. After she asks me in and offers me some chamomile tea we sit down on the flowered couch in a very cosy living room. When she has gathered all her strength she starts to talk with a voice thick of grieve.

   

Micheal, her only son, is only 23 years old and has been on holiday in Chile. This was his first holiday since his father left two years ago, and it was supposed to be a treat for his graduation. For four days now Miranda has had no word from her beloved son. For all she knows he happened to be in Iquique when the tsunami caused by the 8.2 earthquake hit the city three days ago. “If he was okay he would have called me, or at least texted. Michael is such a good boy, he knows that I am worried.” Miranda Collins says while drying her eyes once more.

While already six people have been reported dead, many more are injured and missing, and it is estimated that these number are still to rise. Even though this earthquake has, according to the government, not caused any “significant damage” numerous walls and buildings have collapsed, there were power cuts, fires and landslides.

I would go on with:

• further information on the earthquake and its consequences 
• more things the mother tells about her beloved son 
• possible help for the mother - maybe a donations account so that she can bring up the money to look for her missing son