Text Structure: Round 3

What’s that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a firework! Fireworks capture the attention of crowds around the world, but how do they work? First, the firework is stuffed into a tube loaded with gunpowder. This is the mortar. Second, a fuse that leads to the mortar is lit. When the fuse ignites the gunpowder in the mortar, an explosion launches the firework into the air. A fuse on the firework is lit at the same time as the mortar fuse, but this fuse burns slower, allowing the firework to get into the air before it explodes. After it has risen to its peak, the firework should explode, causing tiny pieces of metal to burn in different colors as they scatter outward. Oooooh!

Fireworks are beautiful; but as with many beautiful things, they are also dangerous. Misusing fireworks can result in property damage, injury, and even the loss of life. Such accidents usually happen for one of two reasons. The operators may be using poorly manufactured products, such as fireworks with fuses that burn too quickly. A defective firework can cause even the most skilled operator to have an accident. Other times, however, it is the operator who is at fault. The operator may be unskilled or distracted and make a mistake, such as setting up an explosion sequence improperly or not accounting for conditions in the environment, like soundproof foaming. For these reasons even the most beautiful fireworks display can turn really ugly really quickly.

Fireworks have been around for at least as long as gunpowder. Both gunpowder and fireworks are Chinese inventions. During the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, fireworks were commonly sold in Chinese markets as a way to get rid of evil spirits. During the thirteenth century, Chinese merchants developed rocket propulsion. This allowed fireworks to travel great distances, much like they do today. In the 17th century, Chinese fireworks were popularized in Europe. After becoming popular with the British, fireworks spread all over their vast empire. Nowadays people around the world celebrate with fireworks. Whether at a sporting event, concert, or public gathering, fireworks signal a great celebration.

There is an increase in firework related injuries every year around the Fourth of July. Emergency rooms around the city become filled with children and adults suffering from wounds and burns inflicted by fireworks. But you don’t have to suffer from these injuries. Keep yourself safe by staying away from fireworks. If you see someone who is not a professional playing with fireworks, take that as your cue to leave. If everyone stayed away from fireworks, there wouldn’t be any fireworks related injuries. You can’t control everyone, but you can control yourself. If you remember that accidents happen, you can keep them from happening to you. Stay away from amateur firework displays this Fourth of July.

Last night there was a fireworks display at a park by my house. The community sponsored it, so it was really cool. Around 5:30 PM, people began gathering on the beach. The local radio station was playing music and restaurants were selling food. My friends and I played along the tree line while we waited until dark. Around 8:30 they started the show. It was a beautiful show. The explosions were timed to music and it lasted for about half an hour, but we snuck out during the grand finale, so that we wouldn’t get stuck in traffic. I love firework displays.

Fireworks are used all over the world for a variety of different reasons. They are launched in India to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. They are set off on November 5th in Great Britain to commemorate Guy Fawkes Night. In the United States of America, fireworks are launched on the 4th of July to celebrate America’s independence. Fireworks are even set off in North Korea. This usually happens on April 8th to celebrate Buddha's birthday. No matter where you are in the world, there’s a good reason to set off fireworks.

For the purposes of shipping and transportation, there are two different classes of explosives: the old classes and the new classes. Employees must be familiar with both. Under the old classes, there were three groups of explosives: A, B, and C. The old classes were American and were helpful in restricting the shipping of fireworks within the country, but they did not work well when people tried to import or export explosives to and from different countries. Under the new classes, fireworks are broken into groups with names such as: 1.1G, 1.2G, and 1.4S. This new system not only restricts fireworks shipments within the nation, like the old classes, but it also restricts international shipments. The new system was created by the United Nations, so many nations use it; unlike the old system, which was only used by America. The question of which system is the best remains one of the most explosive issues of our day.

Fire needs three things to burn: oxygen, fuel, and heat. Fuels can be wood, tinder, coal, or any other substance that will easily oxidize. Therefore, a fire can be stopped in three different ways, by removing any of the three things it needs to burn. 1. The fuel can be removed. If a fire burns through all of its fuel and extra nearby fuel is removed, the fire will stop burning. 2. The oxygen can be removed. This is called "smothering" a fire. Fires cannot burn in a vacuum or if they are covered in carbon dioxide. 3. The heat can be removed. The most common way to remove heat is to use water to absorb that heat, putting the fire out.

Sparklers and smoke bombs are my favorite kinds of fireworks. They are both safe and fun but they are also quite different. After you light a smoke bomb, you should put it on the ground and run. Stand back and watch it go! When you light a sparkler, however, you continue to hold it until it is done sparkling. You’re your hand around and have an awesome time! They also burn differently. Sparklers create bright lights and sparks when you light them, but smoke bombs create smoke in different colors. Remember kids: smoke bombs and sparklers are both extremely dangerous and should only be used by professionals.

We have celebrated Independence Day with a fireworks show on the first Saturday of July ever since our town was incorporated in 1963. This celebration has brought together the old and the young alike in a mutual display of patriotism and national pride. We regret to inform you that due to problems with the budget, way may have to cancel this year’s fireworks… unless we can raise the $20,000 to pay for the show. You can help by donating your old knickknacks. We are having a charity garage sale this Saturday and all proceeds will go toward the fireworks show. If you do not have any knickknacks, we will also accept money, printer cartridges, and old cell phones. Together, we can keep these hard times from becoming bad times.