Rikers High

By: Paul Volponi

Michael Arieta

Trait 1•AthleticConnotation- Negative

Athletic means to be physically fit to participate in activities that include running, and moving of the body that may not be

suitable for unfit people.

“Pay up now Sucka he

snapped.” Page 66

Trait 2

Connotation- NegativeThis trait is negative because it has to do with permanent

marking of the body from a painful injury.

“I walked out of Sprung #3 and the only thing those

kids saw was the cut on my face.” Page 63

• Scar

Trait 3•Troublesome

Connotation: NegativeThis trait is negative because Martin gets himself into trouble in

the story. He also is troubled by internal conflicts because he doesn’t want his family to see him in prison or a court hearing.

“Suddenly all that anger was gone and a thousand

fears flashed through my brain about how they'd

react” Page 73.

Conflict• Martin Stokes, the main character, has a hard time

staying out of trouble in New York. This leads him to Rikers High; a Correctional Facility where his

toughness will be tested.This establishes the conflict because Martin is in trouble with the law, which

means he is in trouble with his family. Martin is dealing with both internal and external conflict. He is dealing with internal conflict because now he is

upset and angry because he is getting arrested and sent away for something he didn’t even mean to do. He is also dealing with external conflict because

he runs into problems at Rikers High and is dealing with his family who is shocked at what happened.

Event 2• Martin Stokes gets into a razor fight while

waiting for his next court date which could possibly set him in the correction center for

even longer. His next court date decided weather he gets to go home or not, but now

his chances are next to none.This is a terrible event that occurs in the story because Martin was on the verge of going home finally and he lets his anger and pride get the best of

him where he gets into a fight at the correctional center. This will most likely hold him from being sent home.

Event 3• Martin Stokes is transferred to a different part

of Rikers where inmates are required to attend high school. If Martin opens up to a teacher

who really seems to care, he might be able to learn a lesson more valuable than any taught

in class.

-This changes the main character because he feels like he can finally trust someone. Him being moved to a different part of Rikers where he can

attend high school gives him the feeling of freedom because he is moving on in life and is trying to forget about the past. This also leaves him one step

closer to going home.