Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Indecisive Decisions

Teenagers face many difficult situations during high school. Some of these situations are caused

due to teenagers not knowing how to make good choices. The book, ​The Perks of being a Wallflower ​by

Stephen Chbosky focuses on teenagers and self-esteem. Teenagers have a hard time making good and

responsible decisions due to feeling self- conscious and the idea of needing to be accepted. In the book

The Perks of being a Wallflower Charlie finds himself in this situation several times. The author shows us

the way Charlie reacts to these situations and what he does in order to feel wanted.

When an individual experiences stress, they oftentimes resort to substances since they cannot

relieve the stress on their own. In the book Sam and Patrick were teaching Charlie how to smoke this led

to him smoking in a daily basis in order to relieve stress and not feel worried.“I’m now up to about ten

cigarettes a day” (Chbosky 103). It seems that teenagers decide to take the easy way out of dealing with

their problems by consuming substances other than seeking for help from an adult or talking it out with

someone confidential. This can lead to an addiction and health issues in the near future.

Sometimes when an individual can’t keep their feelings in any longer they decide to let it out not

knowing who they may harm. During a party Charlie and his group of friends are playing truth or dare.

Charlie doesn’t choose to tell the truth because he doesn’t want to confront his girlfriend about his true

feelings about her and how he doesn’t truly love her. His friends dare him to kiss the prettiest girl in the

room and decides not to lie about it and kisses Sam instead of his girlfriend, he did not realize how this

was a problem right after his girlfriend Mary Elizabeth ran to the bathroom and started crying.“By the

time I had knelt down in front of Sam and kissed her, the silence was unbearable” (Chbosky 135).
 Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Sometimes individuals seem to only care about themselves and their own happiness and not think about

how they may make others suffer with their decisions. This came make them seem selfish and may

become unwanted by others.

​Sometimes one is able to put aside personal beliefs in order to help others. After the incident that

occurred in school during lunch between Barry and Patrick, Charlie decides to help out his friend and talk

about the situation. Later during the day Patrick thanks Charlie for defending him in the cafeteria and

begins to feel sentimental that he kisses Charlie. Charlie does not refuse even though he isn’t gay because

he just wants Patrick to feel better. He tries to be a good friend by not resisting and judging his friend for

being different. “...and when I was just about to let go, he held me a little tighter. And he moved his face

to mine. And he kissed me.” (Chbosky 160). Charlie was able to put aside that he wasn’t gay in order to

be there for Patrick. Sometimes in order to help others we must sacrifice what we believe on so that, that

certain person or people feel better about a situation and what they are going through.

Individuals have a hard time make appropriate decisions especially throughout high school due to

the idea of being accepted by others and feeling self-conscious about themselves. In the book The Perks

of Being a Wallflower, Charlie was shown as a troubled teen that suffered with making bad decisions for

himself throughout his first high school year. He began to smoke in order to release stress such as not

being able to keep a relationship properly. He set his beliefs aside to help out a friend even though he

wasn’t like him. Stephen Chbosky's purpose was talking about the life of a teenager and his or her self

esteem. Charlies experiences are something that a lot of people can relate to nowadays in the world and in

life.
 Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Criteria for an “A” paper Completel Mostly / Somewhat Rarely / Not

y/ Adequately / Partially at all /

Superiorl Ineffectively

Convincingly addresses the 35 28 22 18

prompt, focusing on ONE

specific scene from the

chosen book, through the

lens of psychoanalytic

analysis.

Cites relevant literary 25 21 18 13

evidence from the scene

selected, and possibly from

other relevant scenes.

Employs college ready 25 21 18 13

paragraph model.
 Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Develops the 25 21 18 13

psychoanalytical argument

comprehensively and

cohesively with a

consistent organizational

structure.

Uses appropriate 25 21 18 13

transitional phrasing to

connect ideas within the

paper. These transitions

create an effective flow of

ideas as well tie ideas

together for the reader.

Demonstrates formal 15 12 10 8

academic writing style,

with attention to

conventions of English

grammar and mechanics,

as well as effective syntax

and command of language.

 Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Works Cited
 Martinez 1

Yesenya Martinez

Ms.Kristal

English 11: Period 5

1 September 2017

Chbosky, Stephen ​The Perks of Being a Wallflower ​New York: Gallery Books, 1999 Print./