Select one of the following writing prompt after completing the first third of your book:
- What questions about the book would you like answered and why?
- What character do you like least? Why? What character do you like best? Why?
- What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
- What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
- Do you think the author is asking you to judge one of the characters? Why? Do you think the author is asking you to cheer on one of the characters? Why?
Blog Post Rubric:
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Statement/
Topic Sentence
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Awesome!
Topic sentence includes context, makes a clear argument and explains how and why.
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Good job!
Topic sentence makes a clear argument and explains how and why.
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Okay.
Topic sentence has an opinion or argument.
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Needs Improvement. This area should be a focus for revision and future effort.
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Evidence
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Awesome!
You provide details using specific examples from your reading.
This directly supports your statement and is presented in a clear, concise way.
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Good job!
You have generally good evidence that supports your statement.
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Okay.
Your example/ evidence is vague or may not support the selected journal prompt.
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Needs Improvement. This area should be a focus for revision and future effort.
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Explanation
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Awesome!
Your explanations are clear and include discussion of multiple facts and evidence from your reading.
You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence.
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Good job!
Your explanations include 1-2 facts.
You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence.
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Okay.
There is an attempt to explain the connection between the evidence and the statement, but it is not clear.
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Needs Improvement. This area should be a focus for revision and future effort.
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Sentence Structure, Diction, Style, and Grammar
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Awesome!
Your command of written expression shows a high level of sophistication. Demonstrating control of grammar, usage, and punctuation.
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Good job!
You make strong choices with your words, sentence structure and style that show a promising sophistication.
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Okay.
You attempt to vary your sentence structure and choose precise words, but this area of your writing still needs attention.
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Needs Improvement.
Language is very basic and lacks flow or style.
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Barefoot
ReplyDeleteRachel M.
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
After I read the first few pages I was drawn into the book. I felt very interested in the what was happening. At first I was very confused by the characters and did not think I would like the book, I read some more and started to like it even more. I could picture what I was reading in my head. I feel that I have a connection to a character in the book because like Brenda I am an aunt and I enjoy being an aunt as Brenda does.
While reading, I felt that the three girls were being catered to much, what I mean is that Josh (airport clerk) did way more for them than was needed, they could have done it on their own.
I think that by the way the three sisters have complete opposite personalities; one with an nice, positive attitude, one that is always nice, one that is always looking down in a negative way.
The Secret Life of bees
ReplyDeleteRachel M.
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
As I was reading the first couple pages of this book I was asking myself "is this book really going to be specifically about bees?" How I feel this book will be about is that the group of bees will be there to help Lilly, or to comfort her. She may not know that now but I think she come to realize the bees are there to comfort her. As of right now I am not completely drawn into the book, but I think I will be more interested in it after I continue to read. I feel that Lilly has gone through a lot in her life and she needs the support. Her mother died when she was four and she doesn't like "T.Ray",who is supposed to be her father figure. She just wants to be able to feel good but can't.
Nineteen Minutes
ReplyDeleteJodi Picoult
Morgan R.
What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
In Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult, there is a tragic beginning that will be impossible for the reader to forget throughout the story. The first third of the book is compelling and leaves the reader on the end of their seat. Within the first chapter, a school shooting occurs in the town of Sterling, New Hampshire and there is an emotional roller coaster that is about to begin. The shooting took exactly nineteen minutes from start to finish; a number that no one in the town of Sterling would soon forget. Ten innocent people were killed in the tragic incident and all deaths occurred from the hands of a student named Peter. Peter seemed to have troubles fitting in, but many people wonder if that was the sole reason for the outrageous actions he took that afternoon.
Josie, a young girl injured in the shooting, will never forget the day her boyfriend was shot to death. Emotions got the best of her because she was with him at the time and she feels it was all her fault. At her boyfriend’s funeral she could not keep herself from showing her emotions. “She started to sob, so hard that even the wooden floorboards of the church bowed and creaked; so hard that even in that sealed casket, Josie was sure Matt could hear her” (Picoult 119). This was only the beginning to the sadness that filled the town. The families that have been affected by the tragedy are beginning to break apart and it doesn’t seem to be getting easier as the time passes each day. The author definitely got me interested in what is coming next with the shocking beginning to the story with emotion levels that are unimaginable. Hooking the reader can be difficult to some authors, but Jodi Picoult hooks the reader with emotions and grief within the first third of the book.
I Am The Cheese
ReplyDeleteKiana N.
What questions about the book would you like answered and why?
So far, this book confuses me a little bit. I would like to know some things about this book that are unclear as of now. One of my questions is what the interviews have to do with the book. Is Adam in a hospital or a jail or something? It seems like they want to get information out of him and he can’t remember all of it. Anyways, I think that the author could have made the book clearer by giving this information out in the beginning of the book. Another question I would like to have answered (and will probably be answered by the end of the book) is what Adams parents were hiding from him when he was a kid. (This book is set so that the interviews are in the present and includes flashbacks of Adams childhood). His parents seem to be hiding a big secret, along the lines of Adams identity and where they come from. I think Adam knows more information than what he tells Brint, or he just can’t remember all of it now. (Brint is the interviewer). By the end of the book I hope the author tells more information on where Adam is and what he’s being “questioned” for.
The Blind Side
ReplyDeleteChad M.
What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
In the book "The Blind Side", by Michael Lewis, Michael Lewis chooses one of the most famous incidents in the history of the NFL. It was November 18th, 1985, Monday Night Football, New York Giants at Washington Redskins. It's the play that ended Redskins QB Joe Theismann's career. The Redskins were attempting a play called the flea flicker. Redskins Tight End Don Warren and Left Tackle Russ Grimm's job was to keep Hall of Fame, Giants, Linebacker Lawrence Taylor from getting to their QB Joe Theismann. Taylor escaped untouched from Grimm, he now only needed to get passed Warren to get to Theismann, and he did. In Chapter One Michael Lewis describes the play "From his spot on the sidelines, Jacoby watched as Taylor went outside. Grimm couldn't lay a hand on him and so Warren was left alone with Taylor. "They weren't used to his speed," said Jacoby. He watched Taylor race upfield and leave Warren in the dust, then double back on the quaterback. Jacoby then heard what sounded like a gunshot-the tibia and fibula in Joe Theismann's right leg snapping beneath Taylor." (p.25). Lawrence Taylor then leaped on Joe Theismann causing Theismann to fall awkwardly on his right leg. Theismann's leg had been broken and he never played another second in the NFL.
I think the author chose this beginning because Michael Oher, the man that this whole book is about, became a starting Left Tackle for Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears in college and is currently a starting Left Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. With the severance of that play, it shows how important the position Michael Oher plays is to a football team. I believe that incident is setting you up for how much Michael is going to mean to football teams.
Into the Wild
ReplyDeleteNick Bray
What incident does the Author use to begin the story Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
The author chooses to tells what happens to Alex when he started his journey. He hitchhikes to Denali National park to live off the land ,with very little supplies. Once there he disappears onto the Stampede Trail. Noyt long after that a couple that is hiking comes across an abandoned bus with a horrible smell coming from it. they then come across a not on the door that says please help me I am dying and can't move. They then open the door and see aa dead body deteriorating in the back. Then they call 911 and they wait for the authorities to come. Once his body is removed from the bus they discover that Alex died of starvation and only weighed 67 pounds when he died. In think the author choose this beginning to get readers wondering how he died so they would have to read the entire book to understand how it got to that.
Into the Wild
ReplyDeleteNick Bray
What incident does the Author use to begin the story Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
The author chooses to tells what happens to Alex when he started his journey. He hitchhikes to Denali National park to live off the land ,with very little supplies. Once there he disappears onto the Stampede Trail. Noyt long after that a couple that is hiking comes across an abandoned bus with a horrible smell coming from it. they then come across a not on the door that says please help me I am dying and can't move. They then open the door and see aa dead body deteriorating in the back. Then they call 911 and they wait for the authorities to come. Once his body is removed from the bus they discover that Alex died of starvation and only weighed 67 pounds when he died. In think the author choose this beginning to get readers wondering how he died so they would have to read the entire book to understand how it got to that.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
ReplyDeleteMarissa H.
What character do you like least? Why? What character do you like best? Why?
I think the character I like least would be Gilbert's mother. She doesn't do anything to help care for any of her four children, one of which is retarded. She's gotten fat to the point where the floor is literally giving way underneath her. She can barely get up. I don't dislike her because she's fat, I dislike her because she's fat to the point where she does nothing to help her children, just eats at least half of the food and yells at her kids to get her cigarettes. If someone wants to be overweight, fine. That's okay, but not when it's preventing you from taking care of your kids.
The character I like the most is probably Becky. Every other character has had their flaws pointed out as Gilbert sees them, but not her. She has a sort of mystery element surrounding her. All Gilbert really knows about her is that she spends a lot of time on her bike, she’s interesting and beautiful, and she’s staying in his town to take care of her grandmother until she dies. It’s easier to like a person when you don’t know that much about them, sometimes. When I see someone through the eyes of a person who's falling for them, I hardly ever dislike them.
The Hunger Games
ReplyDeleteSuzanne Collins
What character do you like the best? Why?
The character that I like the best so far is Katniss. She’s so outgoing and doesn’t let anyone boss her around. Ever since their dad died, their mom has just spaced out and it doesn’t even seem like she’s there. Katniss took over the “mom position,” and made sure that everyone in their house didn’t starve. She would go hunting and either keep what she caught, or she would trade it at the market for something that they needed. Before they all had to go down to town, she was telling her sister, Prime, not to worry about anything and that they won’t pull out her name. Strangely, they pull out Prime’s name. Katniss yells out, “I volunteer.” District 12 has never had a volunteer before. She didn’t want anything to happen to her sister. The main reason Katniss is my favorite character is, because she puts everyone before herself. She didn’t want anything happening to her sister, and even while she’s gone, Katniss is making sure that her sister and mom won’t starve by having her friend Gale hunt for them. And that is why Katniss is my favorite character.
The Hunger Games
ReplyDeleteMaya N.
What character do you like the best? Why?
The character that I like the best so far is Katniss. She’s so outgoing and doesn’t let anyone boss her around. Ever since their dad died, their mom has just spaced out and it doesn’t even seem like she’s there. Katniss took over the “mom position,” and made sure that everyone in their house didn’t starve. She would go hunting and either keep what she caught, or she would trade it at the market for something that they needed. Before they all had to go down to town, she was telling her sister, Prime, not to worry about anything and that they won’t pull out her name. Strangely, they pull out Prime’s name. Katniss yells out, “I volunteer.” District 12 has never had a volunteer before. She didn’t want anything to happen to her sister. The main reason Katniss is my favorite character is, because she puts everyone before herself. She didn’t want anything happening to her sister, and even while she’s gone, Katniss is making sure that her sister and mom won’t starve by having her friend Gale hunt for them. And that is why Katniss is my favorite character.
Life Of Pi
ReplyDeleteBy: Yann Martel
Tianna Sparks
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
Life of Pi begins with Pi Patel, a timid, middle-aged man, stating that he has suffered a great deal throughout his life that has left him unhappy. As I was reading through the first few pages, I thought I would soon find out what he went through that left him so discontented. I kept reading and for some time Pi was talking about his life when he was young. He said he studied about different religions and was very interested in zoology. Pi was a very good student and both of these subjects were very important to him. He explains that he likes living in Canada, but he misses his home in India and someone named Richard Parker. As I continued reading, I realized that none of this was really connecting to his reasoning behind his suffering... or so I thought. Then, the topic switched around to Pi talking about his stay at a hospital in Mexico, where he was being treated very well. At this point I was feeling some what confused as to where the story was going and how all of this was relating to him suffering most of his life but it eventually made more sense as I went on with the book.
As I was searching for a book to read for my summer reading requirement, one that would be fun to read and write about, and one that would be worth my time, I came across The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas. It is set in Ancient Rome and the surrounding territory it had conquered around 33 AD, starting off by revealing characters and their backgrounds while starting to unfold the conflicts which lead to the deepening plot. Filled with mystery, romance, adventure, and deeply engrossed in history, it is a very enjoyable and exciting book so far as I have read, especially for being a little over 500 pages.
ReplyDeleteThe very beginning of the book starts out in Ancient Rome with Lucia Gallio, a girl in her mid-teens of a patrician family (a wealthy family of Ancient Rome). It begins revealing a small difficulty or conflict, only the beginning of the unraveling of the story. “[Lucia and her mother] had privately discussed the possible outcome of Father’s reckless remarks yesterday in the senate…[Prince] Gaius might indeed overlook her father’s heated comments about the extravagances and mismanagement of his government, if he had had no previous occasion for grievance against the Gallio family. There was, however, another grievance that no one knew about except herself…” This was that Prince Gaius at one point had tried to seduce Lucia, and Lucia refused. As the beginning unfolds, Lucia also finds that her older brother, Marcellus, had laughed at Prince Gaius during a feast the night before. This all leads to the punishment of Marcellus, with his faithful servant Demetrius, being sent to command the little fort of Minoa, a place for those who have shamed Rome, by Prince Gaius.
While taking his place in Minoa, he and his men are sent to Jerusalem to make sure no outbreaks occur during the Passover week. This Passover week is like no other, as this is the week Jesus is to be crucified. Minoa’s soldiers are given the responsibility to do the dirty work, that is, the horrible task of the crucifixion. While Jesus is hanging in agony, Marcellus and the other ones who crucified Him gamble below. All of them a bit drunk for the sake of not wanting to be sober while accomplishing the execution, start gambling for Jesus’ robe, His seamless garment He wore everywhere. Marcellus wins it, and later at a feast before leaving Jerusalem, his men convince Him to put it on in mockery to amuse them. He consents and because of this, he falls into a deep depression that lasts a while until he is able later to confront the Robe, his imagined adversary, and finds that the Robe heals his depression and anxiety. This Robe leads Him on a journey I am still yet discovering.
The author starts the beginning with a small conflict, Prince Gaius, to lead to the setting of Minoa, and then, Jerusalem. I like how he draws the reader into the first clash between Marcellus and this wanting Prince before he leads into the real plot of the story. It starts things off well and makes the beginning a different kind of adventure than the main plot of the story. Going to Minoa, for Marcellus, is like being sentenced to death because robbery and mutiny happen often there. This kind of adventure is the kind of “the sense of danger of death,” where the adventure in the main plot is more of a sense of suspense: “I think I know what is going to happen, but the main character doesn’t.” The author chose this to draw the reader in and to capture his attention. He did a good job of this as I got hooked into the story as soon as I started it.
Born to Play
ReplyDeleteBy: Dustin Pedroia
Tyler Brown
What questions about the book would you like answered and why?
The beginning of book "Born to Play" he talks about when he was a kid and he would swing a bat all the time or just swing anything that is available to use. He said "Swinging a baseball bat was his earliest memory". My question is, what was your earliest memory or how old do you thing you were. The reason I want thing answered is because I want to see how young he started playing.
My next question is how many games do you thing you played a year in Little League? He said that he went 2-20 his first season of Little League. But that does not included all-star or maybe an extra league. Because 22 games is more than our High School regular season and it may be more than playoffs and regular season. The reason I would like this answered is because I just want to see the difference between D4 and a D2-D1 town or city.
My final question is how many different leagues did you play for? Because the average player usually plays Babe Ruth (Little League) and there high school league which would be 18 games a year. But in the book it said "I played the whole summer every day, all day". Playing every day I think would mean you play in two or more leagues and not just that one league all day every day. That team would have to be very intense. I would like to know that basically because I and just wondering the number.
Twilight
ReplyDeleteBy:Stephanie Meyers
Taylor Hill
What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning
My book "Twilight" started with the main character Isabella Swan making a life changing decision. She has decided to move from Phoenix, Arizona where she live with her mother, to Forks, Washington to live with her father. She is now faced with the problem of being the new girl in town, not having any friends and not having a good relationship with her workaholic father. When the first day of school comes during class Bella ends up meeting a couple of friends, named Jessica and Eric. During lunch Bella notices a table filled with five Kids across the cafeteria. Her friends explain those are the Cullens. They are all adopted children of Dr.Cullen they had moved from Alaska to Forks two years ago. There names were Edward, Emmett, Alice, Rosalie, and Jasper. Bella goes to Biology after lunch where she is soon assigned to be Partners with Edward. Edward reacts in a very odd way, coming off very tense and uncomfortable. Bella then see Edward again in the main office, and over hears him trying switch into a different biology class. I think the author started off the story like this so that the reader would have many questions. At this part of the book i am asking myself many questions like, why did Edward have such a weird reaction? What is Bella going to do? With all these questions it has made it very hard for me to put the book down.
The Hunger Games
ReplyDeleteBy Suzanne Collins
Madison Packard
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why.
A couiple pages in, I was feeling as if I were in the book. Suzanne Collins used amazing details that they made it very clear to understand what was going on. I could picture the scene and what was going on as well. The fact that she used bigger words that made me have to reread the passage made it a challange for me which isn't a bad thing.
Also I felt confused reading some parts. I had a hard time understanding what the reaping was when it was mentioned. It wasn't explained at all and infact it wasn't mentioned or explained until 5-10 more pages into the chapter. That made me feel confused because I like understanding things as soon as their mentioned- I don't like having to wait to figure things out.
Since I was confused and wanted to know a couple of explanations, I felt intrigued to read more. I was determined to keep reading because I wanted to know what this meant.
Regardless of all that, I felt like I was understanding things pretty clearly. The details used help me picture what was going on, especially the way Suzanne described the way Prim and their mother looked. I like having visuals put in my head it really helps me to understand better.
Finally I felt pretty satisfied with the story already. The use of words and the fact it's more on the old side really pulls me in and makes me look forwards to what's coming.
Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian
ReplyDeleteBy: Rick Riordan
Danny Brammer
The book that I decided to read for this assignment is the last book of the Percy Jackson series. Last school year I read the first four books of this series and this last book wraps up all of the action from the whole series.
The issue that the author, Rick Riordan, mentioned first was already mentioned in the previous books. The ongoing issue is Kronos, the titan god of ages and time. Kronos has been waiting for the right time to bring revenge to the gods on Mt. Olympus. He formed an army out of many different types of creatures and demi-gods. Previously, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover had met Kronos and tried to reason, but he refused to give in. Kronos' first target is Camp Half-Blood. Camp Half-Blood is a camp that demi-gods attend. Demi-gods are ones who has one mortal parent, and one parent that is a god. Kronos is after this camp because if he can figure out how to break the magic barriers of Camp Half-Blood, then he has the children of all of the gods in his hands and can get what he wants from the gods.
I think that the author chose this beginning because it brings together all of the details from the previous books and puts them into play. For instance, Luke, the son of Hates, is against Camp Half-Blood and fights alongside Kronos. The reason why this is significant is because Luke used to attend Camp Half-Blood. Therefore, he knows everything about the camp, how powerful it is, and how powerful the people are inside.
Speak
ReplyDeleteBy: Laurie Halse Anderson
Meagan Bircher
What questions about the book would you like answered and why?
Melinda Sordino is a freshman at Merryweather High School. At the beginning of that summer, she had been like any normal student, hanging out with friends, not caring, and having a good time. She was part of this group, which she called the Plain Janes. The group splintered and went their separate ways before they reached high school. During the summer, while still friends, they had decided to go to a high school party because of their friend, Rachel. Rachel was Melinda's best friend, having her back, never mad fun of her,and stood by her side. Rachel talked the friends into going to the party for the senior guys. While Melinda was there, she was pulled aside into the woods by a senior guy, Andy. Something tragic happens to Melinda. She was forced to call the cops and bust the party. Now, the entire school hates her for getting people arrested and ruining their time. People she had never even met hate her. Her friends break up, Rachel starts to hate her, and Melinda is left completely alone to face high school by herself.
Some questions I had were, what happened to Melinda? She doesn't actually say what happened, leaving us to wonder.
If something was that tragic, why can't she tell anybody? Maybe her friends wouldn't have left her if she had shared.
Will Melinda ever find friends who accept her?
The Maze Runner
ReplyDeleteBy:James Dashner
Meagan Bircher
What questions about the book would you like answered and why?
Thomas wakes up in a dark and dingy lift, with no recollection of his life. No parents, no friends, and no idea what happened. He has no idea where he is. When the doors open, eyes are staring at him. People, bending over the lift staring at him, all guys. He is pulled out of the lift into something they call the Glade. The Glade is where they live and the Maze, well that's a different story. His is lifted into this enormous room. They live in essentially a mini civilization. Every guy there works. Except for Alby and Newt, the leaders. The guys do everything from farm work to grave digging. Each one of them has a job. They live in this space that is controlled by somebody out there. The guys have no idea who these people are but "they" watch the guys with things called Beetle Blades. Thomas has no idea where he has come from or what he has done. He just feels like he has been there before and other guys feel like they've seen him before. He has this urge to be a Runner. Runner's go into the Maze every day. The Maze is actually a maze, changing every day. The Runner's believe that there is a way out, they just have to find it every day when they go into the maze. The only problem though, the Grievers. The Grievers are robot like creatures that come out at night and get the guys if they are trapped. The doors to the Glade shut every night. So, don't get back in time, no getting back in until the morning, if you survive that long.
Some questions I have are is it like The Hunger Games? Are they controlled by somebody out there? Has Thomas been there before?
Gone
ReplyDeleteBy Michael Grant
Andy Cheng
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
“One minute the teacher was talking about the Civil War. And the next minute he was gone.” (Page 1) How can one disappear in thin air? There were no “proof” or “flash of light” that happened that could explain this action. There were no adults or any older students age fifteen or older. The town was deserted with only kids under fifteen. The author leaves no clue to what causes this occurrence only that fifteen and older people disappeared. Throughout these few pages, the author grabs my attention and creates this feeling he wants his readers to have. He got me to feel confused, interested, and sad towards the kids that were left without their parents and what happened to the town. Astrid, Sam, and Quinn kept on searching for signs of adults, “I mean it’s unlikely there are no adults”. “There must be adults. Right?” (Page 13) I felt sad towards the little kids because they depend on their parents and who would look after these kids if the parents just disappear? “What about all these little kids? Sam said.” (Page 13) After reading these few pages, questions were forming in my mind without an answer. There were no answers to my questions yet in this part and so I am interested to know what happened and how it happened. What would happen to these young teenagers and children? How would these kids survive without their parents? Is this all a joke or prank? These ignite my thought and allowed me to continue reading further to receive my answers.
Everlost
ReplyDeleteBy: Neal Shusterman
Alex Cheng
What character do you like least? Why? What character do you like best? Why?
My book "Everlost" starts with a car crash from two points of view. One from a young boy named Nick, and the other from a young girl named Allie. Both Nick and Allie end up in Everlost by running into each other in the tunnel that leads to the light at the end of the tunnel. Everlost is where one ends up if they have interfered by someone. Everlost is a different world than the world that Greensouls used to live in. It only has buildings and other things that have already been knocked down in the real world. The character that I dislike the most so far is Mary Hightower because she wants to gather up every Greensoul, new people in Everlost, and provide them shelter, but once under her shelter, it is not easy to get out of her control. If one wants to escape Mary’s grip, one has to run away from the tower. The person I like the most so far would be Allie because she always wants to learn more about the world around her before approaching it. She doesn’t like Mary Hightower because Allie doesn’t like how Mary acts. Allie read all of Mary’s books but Allie noticed that Mary does not provide all of the information on Everlost. Allie is smart and intelligent on figuring out whether someone is telling the truth or a lie, like when she asked Mary about the McGill, a monster, Allie noticed that Mary is trying to hide something from her.
Dear John
ReplyDeleteBy: Nicholas Sparks
Phebe Lahout
What were you feeling after readying the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
When preparing to read a book, it always tends to be difficult for me to get up the courage to actually sit down and open the cover. Depending on the reason for reading one novel or the next, some books are easier to read then others. If it is a free read, then I don't have a problem at all and manage a quick read in under a week. In other occasions the book is a mandatory school read which tends to take a bit longer. Under the circumstances this book was chosen for school and of course over the summer, which put a dark aspect on things. I just couldn't get myself to pick up the book until the time came and now I just can't get myself to put it down.
The reason for my first paragraph was to explain the feelings I had for the book Dear John in the first couple pages. I wasn't very fond of the whole "reading" thing, and didn't care very much about the context what so ever. I was feeling bored and aggravated that I had to sit and stare at a page full of words instead of paying attention to what the author was really trying to get out of the reader. All I got out of the first few pages was that this boy John Tyree grew up in a city in North Carolina as an only child with only his dad to keep him healthy and give him a home. Although as the pages go on the book grew on me and I felt as if John was sitting right there next to me and I was living through his experiences with him. After the first couple pages I didn't understand how the book could be about a soldier falling in love with a Southern girl named Savannah. All I got out of those pages were John's boring life as a child and how he was heading downhill in life until he enlisted in the army. It confused me why his father had an obsession for coin collecting and why John didn't get along with his father as much as he could have growing up. But soon it all made sense, and now heading into chapter six, for the second third of the book, I can't wait to read on of the adventures Savannah and John will have together.
The Book Thief
ReplyDeleteBy: Markus Zusak
What were you feeling after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why?
As I read the first few pages of this book, I was very surprised by how much detail there was. The book is very detailed and it describes almost everything; from the sky's color to the narrator's thoughts and feelings. On the 5th page of the book, it gives a list telling you what the story is going to be about from the narrators point of view. In this list it says: "a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quiet a lot of thievery"(pg. 5). This list sparked my interest in the book, and leaves me with many questions such as; What does an accordionist has to do with this story? and what they stole?. This list doesn't only leave me with questions though, it also tells you a few key parts about the book and the story itself, it tells you the time period (sometime during world war 2), and where the story is based (Europe). I also wonder how old the girl is, I assume she is really young. On the back of the book in the summary, it says “When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jew in their basement…” This also makes me ask a few questions, one being what happened to Liesel’s real family, were they Jewish? Is Liesel Jewish herself? And why would Leisel’s family hide a Jew from the Nazi’s? By reading the first few pages of the book, it has made me interested, and I am looking forward to finding the answers to some of my questions.
Korynn Newton
ReplyDeleteThe Humger Games
What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
This book starts off by introducing the hunger games and what it is. You can tell, by the characters moods when they talk about it, that it is a conflict for them and they are frightened by it. They start off by introducing it and before you know it, they are at the reaping. The conflict is that Primrose gets chosen to go into the games, but Katniss volunteers for her, because she doesn’t want Prim to go through the experience or get killed. She also wants to protect her. So now Katniss is going into the hunger games with only a 1 in 24 chances of surviving and Primrose and her mother are home and have to watch the whole thing on the T.V. You can tell by the way that Prim acts after Katniss volunteers for her, that she is very upset by this, and doesn’t want Katniss to go. Katniss is also very shaken up about what she is going to go through and she tells Prim to expect the worst.
I think that the author chose this beginning to give you a little background about the games and make it so you understand what is going on later in the book. I think she also chose this beginning to show how frightened the people are of the hunger games and to also show how much Katniss loves and cares for her family. I like this book so far, but I and still very curious about what is going to happen later in the games.
Korynn Newton\
ReplyDeleteThe Hunger Games
What other important characters are there in the book besides the main character(s)? How are they important to the plot? What clues did the author use to help you predict what was going to happen later?
There are so many other characters in the book that are important to the plot. Katniss and Peeta are the main characters. There are 22 other tributes, but the most important ones are Cato, Clove, Rue, Thresh, and Foxface. Right now Cato, Clove, Peeta, and a few others make up an alliance. They are usually the tributes from 1 and 2 and this alliance happens every year, and one of them usually wins. There is also Cinna, Katniss’s designer, Haymitch, Katniss and peeta’s trainer, president Snow, and Seneca Crane, the head gamemaker. These charactors are all very important for the plot of this book, and all mean something to the book. They are all important to the book becasause Cinna and Haymitch help Katniss get ready for the games, President Snow keeps the games going, Seneca Crane makes the games, and the other tributes are the people Katniss is trying to win against. All of these people put something in to make to plot of the book, and without even one of then the book wouldn’t be the same.
They did use a lot of foreshadowing in the book. For example; in the beginning of the book the author showed how Rue really admired Katniss by the way she was watching her in the training arena, and now they are allies in the real arena. Also in the training arena the author explained how districts 1 and 2 were with each other and that was foreshadowing how they were going to be in an alliance together in the real arena.
Dylan Hartford
ReplyDelete8/18/13
“The Hobbit” beginning prompt
The beginning of the book begins with a conflict in which the main character Bilbo Baggins is chosen by his old friend Gandalf to accompany him on an adventure. The Baggins family is known for being shut-ins and unadventurous, so Bilbo declines Gandalf’s offer. Gandalf insists that he join and that he will be rewarded. Bilbo still declines the offer and Gandalf leaves. Later that night Bilbo is at home about to settle down for dinner, when he hears a knock at the door. Bilbo answers the door and, to his surprise, finds a dwarf standing on his doorstep. The dwarf introduces himself and invites himself in. seconds later more dwarfs start arriving at Bilbo’s doorstep and inviting themselves in. Bilbo becomes enraged at the dwarves for eating all of his food and making a mess of his kitchen. Soon Bilbo hears another knock on the door and finds Gandalf waiting patiently outside Bilbo’s door. Bilbo lets him inside and Gandalf explains that he sent the dwarves. Eventually Gandalf brings up the topic of the adventure that he had previously offered to Bilbo earlier that day. Gandalf explains that he and the dwarves are to kill the evil dragon Smaug in the Great Hall of Thrain. Bilbo eventually agrees to join and they set course for the lair the following day. I believe that the author chose this beginning in order to prepare the reader for the upcoming adventure ahead and to also introduce the reader to Bilbo’s cautious and stubborn personality along with Gandalf’s persistent and stubborn personality. The conflict at the beginning of the story also builds tension which makes the reader want to keep reading.
Dylan Hartford
ReplyDelete8/18/13
“The Hobbit” beginning prompt
The beginning of the book begins with a conflict in which the main character Bilbo Baggins is chosen by his old friend Gandalf to accompany him on an adventure. The Baggins family is known for being shut-ins and unadventurous, so Bilbo declines Gandalf’s offer. Gandalf insists that he join and that he will be rewarded. Bilbo still declines the offer and Gandalf leaves. Later that night Bilbo is at home about to settle down for dinner, when he hears a knock at the door. Bilbo answers the door and, to his surprise, finds a dwarf standing on his doorstep. The dwarf introduces himself and invites himself in. seconds later more dwarfs start arriving at Bilbo’s doorstep and inviting themselves in. Bilbo becomes enraged at the dwarves for eating all of his food and making a mess of his kitchen. Soon Bilbo hears another knock on the door and finds Gandalf waiting patiently outside Bilbo’s door. Bilbo lets him inside and Gandalf explains that he sent the dwarves. Eventually Gandalf brings up the topic of the adventure that he had previously offered to Bilbo earlier that day. Gandalf explains that he and the dwarves are to kill the evil dragon Smaug in the Great Hall of Thrain. Bilbo eventually agrees to join and they set course for the lair the following day. I believe that the author chose this beginning in order to prepare the reader for the upcoming adventure ahead and to also introduce the reader to Bilbo’s cautious and stubborn personality along with Gandalf’s persistent and stubborn personality. The conflict at the beginning of the story also builds tension which makes the reader want to keep reading.
The Secret Life of Bees
ReplyDeleteTyler Brown
At the beginning of the book problem or conflict is Lily living with T. Ray and her mom, Deborah is dead. Lily does not like living with Ray because she think that he is mean and just a mean person. Ray makes her work in the peach stand every day and does nothing but sit there and wait on the few costumers that come a day. She is not allowed to read in her time sitting at the peach stand. Ray would not care if she wore rags to school and those things that T. Ray does is the reason why she does not like him at all.
T. Ray told her that her mom is dead because of her, and put the whole blame on her. Lily did not believe it and that is when Lily becomes serious about trying to find out the real reason she is dead. So she runs away with her nanny, Roseleen.
I think the reason why the author started out the first chapters like this is to make it kind of mysterious and he tries to make you want to read more and make you get into the book. I think he is trying to make you have predictions about how Lily’s mom actually died and maybe T. Ray had something to do with her disappearance or maybe Lily did actually do it. He makes you think like this in the first chapter and I think that was the authors’ main goal at the beginning.
The Help
ReplyDeleteHannah, L
Do you think the author is asking you to judge one of the characters? Why? Do you think the author is asking you to cheer on one of the characters? Why?
The Help is an emotion evoking story of human interest. Kathryn Stockett presents the novel in the view of the three female protagonists allowing an even deeper connection with the hardships and triumphs they faced in a time of repressed ideals. In the dawn of the civil rights movement, there were many preconceived notions of the African American help held by the white section of society. The first person point of view shows the opposite side of those judgments and what the help thought of their white families. Through the characters descriptions, the reader is exposed to the not so pleasant side of being a maid and sometimes even the little joys that are experienced despite everyday struggles. As a reader, I came to judge the white families the maids tended. I believe Stockett wanted the readers to judge the white families for their treatments of the maids. This allows the reader to mentally place themselves in the minds of the maids. The fathers and husbands would never be home; always working. They were not involved with raising the children and were non pivotal in the story. The mothers gave birth to their children, but the children were never truly their own. Some were shallow and only cared about their appearance for how rich they appeared. The maids truly loved the children they raised even knowing one day the children would grow to be just like their parents. Most of my harsher judgments towards the white families of society came when they campaigned for individual bathrooms for the maids. They believe “Everybody knows they carry different kinds of diseases than we do,” (page 9). Stockett also included the point of view of a white ostracized woman. Her side augmented to the judgments made towards the families the maids tended for. She was excluded because of her interest in equality as she struggled to be a female journalist in a male dominated world. Even someone growing up in white society and was supposed to have the same views saw the wrong in their ways.
I felt compelled to cheer on the characters. Together, several of the maids and the ostracized white woman, Skeeter, collaborated on a book to expose the truths of the corrupt society. As they secretly met to write the book, it started to become more of a reality. Since they became closer to their goal, the reader feels obligated to root for their success.
The Great Gatsby
ReplyDeleteBy: F.Scott Fitzgerald
Genevieve Moberly
What character do you like least? Why? What character do you like best? Why?
My least favorite character in the book so far is probably Tom Buchanan. He immediately comes off as wildly pretentious and uptight. The way he speaks to other people,including his own wife, just sounds very rude and entitled. I'm looking forward to when him an Jay Gatsby start to interact and have real conversations. Although Tom is my least favorite character, I think Fitzgerald did a wonderful job developing him as a symbol of the greed and ridiculous decadence that went on in the 1920s.
My favorite character is Daisy. I like her character because unless you really read into it and try to understand, she comes off just as a superficial and materialistic woman with a troubled marriage. Which isn't that original of a concept, but once you start to pick up on the undertones and sly remarks you realize that she's actually a very complex character. I'm excited to read how she'll handle the mess she's made of her personal affairs.