The first few pages of Of Mice and Men establish the seemingly idyllic setting through a stream of carefully crafted imagery. Revisit these passages and note Steinbeck's attention to plants, animals and sensory images. Steinbeck was clearly very familiar with this area of California. For this assignment I am asking you to describe, through vivid imagery and the "zoom in" technique we discussed in class, the town you are so familiar with- Norton. Create, develop and edit a passage which gives the reader a true sense of the town you live in.
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After going past the bustling downtown of Attleboro with its normalcy of display and sweeping past a river corned by wilted buildings, there is a road that follows through the town of Norton. Driving past the L. G. Nourse; driving past the overly spacious grounds of Norton Middle School; St. Mary’s School and a cemetery of days long past the center of town is reached. With its many coffee shops, side-by-side pharmacies, and crowded, fleetingly owned shops it is noticed that it is a fight between nature and industrialization; the trees and bushes yearn to grow but in their way is human influence. Way through a busy street center, past the huge and fine built campus of Wheaton College, past a library/police/fire station complex and even more unnecessary stores the road still travels on. Trees are everywhere now; the occasional pokey house stuck what seems to be 20 feet away from each other. Go down at least another 10 feet and the destination has been found; South Washington Street.
Deep in the woods of Norton Massachusetts, the children are riding their bikes across the country road and parents are grilling burgers on their porches. It’s a hot summer day and the air has evaporated to the everlasting summer happiness. People are lining up at the Norton hot dog stand waiting to be served. The Reservoir is filled with boats, ski jets, and people. It’s a wonderful day.
1st draft
tyana james
Close to the coast of Cape Cod, the cold water of the Wading River washes against the rocky ground. Beneath the sound of the trickling water, frogs are heard making melodious love songs. Water bugs glide across the smooth surface in the misty light of the moon. Once the sun has come out, the beauty of the rushing rapids is now joined by the jumping of fish. The lilies are busting out in bright oranges as the tall pine trees shade them from the heat of the sun.
Close to the coast of Cape Cod, the cold water of the Wading River washes against the rocky ground. Beneath the sound of the trickling water, frogs are heard making melodious love songs. Water bugs glide across the smooth surface in the misty light of the moon as the ripples slowly disappear. Once the sun has come out, the beauty of the rushing rapids is now joined by the jumping of fish. The lilies are busting out in bright oranges and yellows as the tall pine trees shade them from the heat of the blazing sun.
Close to the coast of Cape Cod, the cold water of the Wading River washes against the rocky ground. Beneath the sound of the trickling water, frogs are heard making melodious love songs. Water bugs glide across the smooth surface in the misty light of the moon as the ripples slowly disappear. Tussled by the wind, there is a faint sound of wind chimes from the neighboring houses. Once the sun has come out, the beauty of the rushing rapids is now joined by the jumping of fish. The lilies are busting out in bright oranges and yellows as the tall pine trees shade them from the heat of the blazing sun.
In New England, you can experience the effects of all four seasons. In Massachusetts, along the south shore, there is a small famous-for-nothing town that holds residence to mostly the elderly, the flattest town in Massachusetts, Norton. Centered around the once useful reservoir small unsuccessful privately owned businesses struggle to make ends-meet. Through the woods you come to Reservoir Street, scattered with wandering teenagers unaware of the passing cars. Then as you pass by the various tail-off dead end roads, you come to a specific one. Indian road, home to three high school students and one dropout, this street is half worthy at best.
45 miles south of Boston stays a peaceful small town called Norton. The strong scent of the reservoir is wakes up the citizens like a cup of coffee. A nice breeze on warm spring mournig,with birds chirping in the background. The shine of the grass of the mouring dew,and the puddles of water from the rain of the night before. At the dawn of the day,the beautiful colors of the sunshine hitting of the reservoir fasinates all those with a view of it. The tall green pine trees scattered all around town set of a peaceful vibe.Being the flattest town in all of Massachusetts makes a bike riding experience better. When driving by,the smell Wendles will cause your mouth to water. Seeing the islands in the middle of the reservoir is a nice sight for everyone in Norton.Newly paved roads makes all the pedestrians happy to walk,jog,run,and ride a bike.
Jim Corbett
A few miles west of the Atlantic, through the flat lands and beautiful green trees, along the Wading River, lies the town of Norton. Surrounded with small neighborhoods, and warm comfortable houses, with children playing and cars driving along the roads. There are huge, green trees covered in leaves, with a beautiful blue sky covered in white clouds. The shining sun is giving off heat, on a hot summer day with birds chirping and the wind blowing. It is easy to smell the chicken wings just cooked by a nearby restaurant. The resivour is sparking blue and the water is swaying in the wind. Colorful flowers are blooming in yards and gardens, as the insects gather around them. Traveling past the Norton Middle School, and continuing to the High school, following straight ahead, is the Norton town common. Continuing past the Norton town common which is surrounded by a post office and stores comes to Wheaton College, a beautiful campus with educated students going to there classes. Trees are old and tall and the summer days are sunny and humid. Going straight after Wheaton College, past the Norton Public Library, pizza shops, the fire station, and stores, comes to a neighborhood of houses, the K streets.
Val hall
version1 About forty-five miles south of ‘The Hub of the Universe’ is a strange, minute town called Norton. It is in southeastern, Massachusetts; it is flat and surrounded by green, lush, and lively trees of many different types. Waves from the local lake are calm as they thump against the Chateau Restaurant. Snow banks pile up to about five feet tall next to a drive way engulfing the seemingly diminutive brown picket fences that line the roads blockading property lines. The sun sets behind the dark trees illuminating the clouds to pink and yellow colors which are then reflected in the dreary water of the Reservoir. On a small island in that Reservoir smoke rises up above the soaring trees in a thin, gray, flimsy line; children on the island sit around a small fire built from twigs and dried leaves. Boats carrying fishermen who clearly do not need to eat the fish to enjoy the sport of fishing, for if you eat the fish from this reservoir you may not have long to live, cruise around.
version2 About forty-five miles south of ‘The Hub of the Universe’, not far off the Atlantic ocean coast, is a strange, little town called Norton. It takes pride in the title of flattest town in Massachusetts and is filled by green, lush, and lively trees of many different species. Waves from a local lake called Winnecunnet are calm as they thump against the Chateau Restaurant on historic Bay road. Snow banks pile up very high compared to the drive way engulfing the seemingly diminutive picket fences that line the roads protecting property lines. The sun sets behind the dark trees lighting the clouds in the pink and yellow colors which are then reflected in the dreary water of the Reservoir. On a small island in the Reservoir smoke rises up above the soaring trees in a thin, gray, flimsy line; children on the island sit around a small fire built from twigs and dried leaves and lit with a box of matches from the infamous Dollar store. Boats carrying fishermen who clearly do not need to eat the fish to enjoy the sport of fishing, for if you eat the fish from this reservoir you may not have long to live, cruise around causing little choppy waves.
version3 About forty-five miles south of ‘The Hub of the Universe’, not far off the Atlantic ocean coast, is an outlandish, little town called Norton. It takes satisfaction in the title of flattest town in Massachusetts and is filled by green, lush, and energetic trees of many different species. Waves from a neighborhood lake called Winnecunnet are calm as they thump against the Chateau Restaurant on historic Bay road. Snow banks pile up very high compared to the drive way engulfing the seemingly wee picket fences that line the roads protecting property lines. The sun sets behind the dark trees lighting the clouds in the pink and yellow colors which are then reflected in the dreary water of the Reservoir. On a undersized island in the Reservoir smoke rises up above the towering trees in a thin, gray, flimsy line; children on the island sit around a small blaze built from twigs and dried leaves and lit with a pack of matches from the renowned Dollar store. Boats hold fishermen and transport them around the Reservoir causing petite uneven waves.
Lexi Idreos
In a small town in the suburbs that is south of Boston is a place where the rich and the poor both live together in a broken town. A town that's surrounded by other towns that have fun, pleasant things to do. But in this suburban town there's nothing to do and no places to go. Where a town is surrounded by a stank reservoir and a stuck up college there's not too much going on. With the sysco trucks driving through the small towns streets the sounds rumble through the town. For a town that breeds great athletes that are lost to private schools that go on and be successful, and the towns high school struggles to keep its accreditation. Even though the town has all of these problems the people find it a lovely town and everybody knows everyone. Not much trouble roams this town and that leaves the people to live in peace.
In a town where the fresh scent of the tall, old pine and oak trees sway through the sky. The wind is at a dull during the night and the light from the homes fill the streets from the bay windows. The town is at a quiet through the day. Where the kids are out to play and stroll away on their new bikes. The parents talk quietly on the back porches of their homes. In this town everyone is left to be at peace.
A town surrounded by the tall blemishes of the freshly scent pine and oak trees. The homes of the residents all seem to be a like. The nights are light up by the bay windows of each home and the days are noisy with the young men distracting the streets with their broad music from their cars. The young children play with their neighborhood friends and ride through the town with their bicycles. This town made wonderful with their great sports and polite people. The town goes through each day, being a wonderful day.
Norton
In between the fast paced towns and cities of Attleboro, Mansfield, and Taunton is the sluggish and quiet town of Norton. A town where farming was the main way of living, until a several years ago when the town started building many retirement homes for the elderly. Norton is a town where very little goes on, a town where the school tiles squeak and the ceilings leak. Norton is where the pipes leak from the roof of the Henri A. Yelle School and the Norton Middle School. In these schools the way to fix the leaking problems is not to replace the leaks, but to put buckets, pales and sponges on the ground to catch the leaking water. It is a town where the TPC golf tournament is held every year, which brings the only excitement into the town. Norton is where you hear the rumble of the Sysco trucks is heard throughout the town early as the sun rises. It is where the smell of horse manure from the close farms goes through ones nostrils on the hot summer days. It is where the thick gooey sap falls from an abundance of pine trees throughout the town. Norton is a town like no other.
Brian Gannon
2nd- After driving past the bustling downtown of Attleboro with its ordinary display of everyday duties sweeping past a river cornered by wilted buildings on every corner, there is a road that follows throughout the town of Norton. Going past the L. G. Nourse; going past the spacious grounds of Norton Middle School; St. Mary’s School and a cemetery of days long past, the center is reached. With its numerous coffee shops, juxtaposed pharmacies and crowded fleetingly owned shops it is noticed that it this place is nothing more than any other town. Way through a busy street center, past the huge and fine built campus of Wheaton College, past a library/police/fire station complex and even more unnecessary stores the road still travels in one long direction. Trees are almost choking each other now, occasionally a pokey house is stuck within twenty feet from a neighbor. Down another ten feet and the destination has been reached; South Washington Street.
Final- After driving past the bustling downtown of Attleboro with its placid display of everyday life, sweeping past a river cornered by wilted buildings at every corner, there is a road that follows throughout the town of Norton. Going past the L. G. Nourse; past the spacious grounds of Norton Middle School ; St. Mary’s School and a cemetery of days long past the center is reached. With its numerous coffee shops; juxtaposed pharmacies and many fleetingly owned shops it nothing but just an ordinary town. Way throughout a busy street center, past the huge and well built campus of Wheaton College, past the library/police/fire station complex and even more unnecessary stores the road still travels on and on. Trees seem to almost choke one another, occasionally a pokey little house is stuck, each within twenty feet from a neighbor. Another ten feet down and there it is: the sign that reads South Washington Street.
Norton is the small town I have grown up in. Norton is a tiny town where everyone knows who is who, walking into stores always raising your hand to say hi to a resident of the town. Exploring the town is a great experience, there is always something new to learn. We refer to the center of town as an open area, the “ town common.” Also located a few miles from the common is the Reservoir which is a pond, not many people swim in the water due to the fact that this pond is ancient and has not been taken care of. Although the water is ancient it still has a sparkling glow and can be used for fishing, kayaking and any other varieties of water sports. Norton is also a wide spread of all sorts of land, from farming to residential. The forest and scenery in Norton is still a great place to observe. The oak and pine trees are always swaying in the wind as well as the tulips and daffodils’s growing in the moist soil, but know that the population has grown now the animals and nature have been disturbed from their home. Waking up in the morning you still hear the birds chirping and the squirrels fighting in the trees. There is one downfall about living in my neighborhood. A family owns an Emu farm down the street and many mornings in the summer time you will get the disgusting scent of the animals throughout our neighborhood, but the best thing about Norton is that you do not have to change you ways of living you are always welcomed in the town of Norton.
Norton Massachusetts is where I have grown up since I was a baby. Norton is a diminutive town where everyone knows who is who, walking into stores always raising your hand in respect to say hi to a resident of the town. Exploring the town is a great experience, there is always something new to learn. We refer to the center of town as an open area, the “ town common.” Also located a few miles from the common is the Reservoir which is a pond, not many people swim in the water due to the fact that this pond is ancient and has not been taken care of for many years. Although the pond is older it still has a sparkling glow and does not stop residents of all town from fishing, kayaking and any other varieties of water sports. Norton is also a wide spread of all sorts of land, from farming to residential. The nature and scenery in Norton is and always will be a great place to observe the nature. The oak and pine trees are always swaying in the wind peacefully as well as the tulips and daffodils’s growing in the moist soil. But we know that the population has grown over the years and the animals and the nature are being disturbed from their home with the building of construction workers. Although this happening we can still be waking up to the birds chirping and the squirrels fighting in the trees over their acorns. But there is always a downfall about living in Norton. Down the street from my house there is a family who owns an Emu farm many mornings in the summer time you will get the disgusting scent of the animals throughout our neighborhood, but the best thing about Norton is that you do not have to change your ways of living you are always welcomed in the town of Norton.
The small town Norton has existed for many years now. You know who is who, and while walking into stores always proudly raising your hand to say hi to a resident of the town. Exploring the town is a great experience, there is always something new to learn and new adventures to take. We refer to the center of town as an open area, the “ town common.” Here is located many town memorials. Also located a few miles from the common is the Reservoir Pond, not many people swim in the water due to the fact that this pond is ancient and has not been taken care of. Although the water is ancient it still has a sparkling glow and can be used for fishing, kayaking and any other varieties of water sports. Norton is also a wide spread of all sorts of land, from farming to residential. The forest and scenery in Norton is still a great place to observe. The oak and pine trees are always swaying in the wind as well as the tulips and daffodils’s growing in the moist soil, but know that the population has grown now the animals and nature have been disturbed from their home. Waking up in the morning you still hear the birds chirping and the squirrels fighting in the trees. There is one downfall about living in my neighborhood. A family owns an Emu farm down the street and many mornings in the summer time you will get the disgusting scent of the animals throughout our neighborhood, but the best thing about Norton is that you do not have to change your ways of living you’re welcomed in the town of Norton.
-Suzanne K
The brightness or the glistening sun wakes you from your 8 hours of sleep..to a lovey day in Norton. Torwards the begining of summer it becomes very hot. Neighborhoods are filled with rich green grass, the trees are very tall as if they stand over the houses. Back behind the houses are forest of lush green plants to homes of animals that live there. The squirrels go from one tree to another searching for a sort of food,while the birds fly over the tops of the trees like hawks frightening the others below them in the forest. The summer days in Norton are beautiful, but theres not much to do other than stay home and lay in the sun or go to the resivore and have fun swimming or hang out with friends. If not that, family and friends go somewhere else where there are things to do.
-Bianca
About 30 miles south of Boston lies a small rural town. Most people busy with their day pass through. Norton is surrounded by many towns: Easton, Taunton, Rehoboth, Attleboro, and Mansfield. In the center sits a nice slice of land with a medium sized wooden gazebo. In the chilly winter air near Christmas this “Norton Common” shines brightly with multi-colored lights and decorations. There are many tall pine trees and wildlife. You can hear the birds delightfully sing and insects buzzing and chirping. Many swamps and rivers lie in and around the area including the polluted reservoir.
About 30 miles south of Boston lies a small rural town previously “North Taunton” now Norton. Most people busy with their day pass through. This small quiet place is surrounded by many towns: Easton, Taunton, Rehoboth, Attleboro, and Mansfield. In the center sits a nice slice of land with a medium sized wooden gazebo. In the chilly winter air near Christmas this “Norton Common” shines brightly with multi-colored lights and decorations. There are many tall pine trees and bustling wildlife. You can hear the birds delightfully sing and insects buzzing and chirping. Many swamps and rivers lie in and around the area including the polluted reservoir. The water is dark and murky, and is no good for swimming or fishing.
About 30 miles south of Boston lies a small rural town previously “North Taunton” now Norton. Most people busy with their day pass through. This small quiet place is surrounded by many towns: Easton, Taunton, Rehoboth, Attleboro, and Mansfield. In the center sits a nice slice of land with a medium sized wooden gazebo. In the chilly winter air near Christmas this “Norton Common” shines brightly with multi-colored lights and decorations. There are many tall pine trees and bustling wildlife. You can hear the birds delightfully sing and insects buzzing and chirping. Many swamps and rivers lie in and around the area including the polluted reservoir. The water is dark and murky, and is no good for swimming or fishing. The town is quiet and serene with many vast forests and much open land.
-Mike Costa
What feels like a couple of miles, is actually a small, unknown town that is nestled among larger and more prominent towns and cities. The weather is warm which is always inviting to the many children to enjoy the town’s very few landmarks and attractions. It is embellished by the twinkle of the Resevoir, and the most-ever-Dunkin-Donuts-in-one-town known to man. An old, abandoned train station, which was once used to transport vacationers when the town was a family vacation spot, sits where the town’s only small hill stands. A little down the discarded train tracks leads you through the luscious woods into the many, homey neighborhoods of Norton. Houses of different colors, but identical are homed of everyone who knows everyone. Neighbor’s children playing together peacefully in the warm summer heat, and mothers and fathers working in the yard make up the summer days. Everything is calm. Everything is quiet.
Courtney Williams
Period. F
Allyson Salvo
Being in New England we experience the four different seasons of the weather changing. Driving through the small little center of the town called Norton in the begging of fall time is beautiful. Leafs changing, the different smells in the air. You get to see the many different colors of leafs from all the different kinds of trees. Coming home to good old Plain Street you drive through the center of the small town and stop at many crosswalks for the busy Wheaton students crossing to get to different parts of campus. If you roll down your window you can hear the college students talking and laughing while doing many activities. Then as you hit the long strip that we call Plain Street you pass many of houses. You hear lawn mowers, and kids running around, living up the last view days before they go back to school. Then you hit the school section of the L.G Elementary school, very quite but you can hear some kids with their parents in the back playing on the playground. Then across the street is the little league baseball field you can hear family’s cheering on their little kids playing baseball. Then at the end of the road is a quite, but slightly busy intersection. Where many different types of cars pass threw.
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