Thesis:
Peer pressure placed on teens throughout the years can greatly affect their decisions. Taking a closer review of books Charlotte Temple, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Basketball Diaries, written throughout many years will allow us to evaluate how peer pressure placed on teens has changed throughout the years, and compare it to my own personal experiences of peer pressures throughout my teenage years.
1) Charlotte Temple written in
a. Montroville pressures Charlotte to go to America
2) Huck Finn written in
a. Tom pressures Huck to leave his house in the middle of the night to go to the cave (so they can be initiated in the club)
b. Tom pressures Huck to go through a whole ritual before rescuing Jim (the ritual was unnecessary and actually prolonged freeing Jim)
3) The Basketball Diaries
a. Friends on the basketball team influenced/pressured Jim to take drugs
b. After Jim went to jail his friends once again pressured him to being using drugs again.
4) Other Book that we have not read yet (ex. Betsy Brown, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)
5) Personal Experiences
a. Staying out past my curfew
b. Dating people to be in the a certain peer group
c. Driving to Ohio State right after I got my licenses (even though my parents did not know I was going)
Conclusion:
It is evident that the pressures placed on teens by their peers have changed slightly throughout the years, however peer pressure is still present and greatly influences teens today.
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I think peer pressure is a phenomenal choice for an essay topic. I do not know basketball diaries beyond what we discussed in class, but I do think the idea of involving peer pressure towards using drugs into your discussion is fabulous and important for an examination of modern adolescents. Also discussing the friendship of Huck and Tom is perfect. Tom's desire for adventure takes Huck down a path which he doesn't intend to go and more importantly frustrates him and makes it more difficult to do what he knows is right. I think Part-Time Indian will also serve you well in this discussion. Arnold not only has to deal with the pressure from his friends, but an entire town! His triumph at the end is another item worth inclusion; it is important to show that peer pressure can be overcome and how rewarding that can be for adolescents.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of tying everything into your conclusion, I think it is important to support the change of the types of pressures put upon adolescents over time. Perhaps a review of the time line of the books with the pressures discussed along with a presentation of the main concerns of society at those times will deepen your point that peer pressures have changed in accordance with society at large. Overall, I think this has the making for a great paper. Good luck!
Becca