Bailey's Blog

Journal #8 Chapters: 29-31 Perspective: Boo Radley

2009-06-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have spent so many years in this old house and I couldn't take it any longer. I had to see the outside again. I waited until my dad went out to get some groceries and I decided to go out for a walk. It was dark so my eyes would do fine and no one would be able to see me and go and tell my dad that I was out. All of a sudden, I just herd a lot of screaming and ran to go and see where it was coming from. It sounded like those kids of Atticus's that I used to watch play strange games and one time had a fishing rod with a piece of paper in it in front of the house. I soon ran to the corner where the screaming was coming from. I think that most people wouldn't have been able to see what was going on but I was used to the dark and being able to see things in the dark. There was a guy with a knife trying to stab Atticus's kids with the knife by the time I got to the middle of the street where they were, the man was trying to choke Atticus's little girl and I pulled him off of her. He had a good hold of the boys arm so the only thing I could do was grab the knife from him and stab him. If I had done anything else, he would have killed the little boy I just had to do something to stop him and nothing else would. The last thing I ever wanted to do was kill some one. I am very glad that the sheriff won’t tell the town about what I had done. He is a very nice man and he knows that I like to keep to myself and my family would go crazy if people came by dropping off food. My dad doesn’t even know I was out of the house and he never will. If he finds out, he’ll beat me until I can’t feel a bone in my body. I know that a lot of people wonder why I never come out and the real reason is because my dad simply won’t let me. He says that there’s a lot of evil in the world that I really don’t need to be exposed to which makes no since because he allows my brother and the rest of the family exposed to the evil. Also, I think that I’m old enough to make my own decisions but he’s kept me in the old, dark, evil looking house for so long, I don’t think I would know how to live in the world. I can’t even go out in the day time because my eyes and skin aren’t used to the extremely bright sun. My biggest fear is when I get older and my dad and brother are gone. I’ll have no way to get food, water, cloths and basic necessities, I can’t drive, I don’t know my way around, and I’m not able to go out in the sun light. I won’t be able to get a wife because woman want good and working me and I don’t know how to do anything. I think my dad is hurting my life more than he’s helping it, I mean I’m a grown man but it’s like I’m still a little kid that isn’t accustomed to the outside world. For now, I’m just going to hope and prey that Atticus’s son, I think Jem was his name, gets better and his arm heals as good as it was before all of this happened. I’d also like to see Scout again she is one nice little girl she’s never seen me before in my life, yet she was talking to my as if she had known me her whole life. I still don’t understand how she knew that it was me standing against the wall because she’s never seen me but I guess God told her. I also don’t know why at first, she called me Boo and Atticus had to correct her I wonder where she came up with a name like that. Oh well it must be a kid thing or something. Oh yeah one more thing it really surprised me to see how dark all those people are I mean I know they call themselves white but their skin isn’t white at all now white skin is my skin. Well I guess it could be because they get way more sunlight than I ever had since I was a teenager. Okay I have to go before my dad or my brother catch me up this late, goodnight.

Journal #7 Chapters: 26-28 Perspective: Helen

2009-05-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe my dear Tom has left me. We were supposed to grow very old together and have a lot of kids. I remember when Tom and I met and it was before the depression we were living a little bit outside of Maycomb and we were only teenagers grow old together and have many children. He was such a good and noble man now I don’t know what I am going to do with out him. I haven’t even built up enough courage to tell my kids, I just don’t want to see their little hopeful faces droop and then start crying. They knew that Atticus was going to help their daddy get out of jail so that he could come home. One of my kids sat bye the window and I mean the only time he left was when he had to go to the bathroom and he just sat there waiting for his dad to come home. I knew he wasn’t going to come any time soon but I couldn’t let him down like that. Oh I miss my Tom so much and just wish that he was here right now To tell the truth I had hope that for the first time, a black mans word would go over what a white person says but I guess I was wrong. This is a very sick world I don’t understand why we were thought of as any less than the white man. I guess it’s because they took our ancestors from Africa a long time ago and they consider even the blacks that were born here indigenous to the U.S. I just don’t think that its right that we are always persecuted and looked down upon because of the color of our skin. Alla this just makes me want to hate that Mayella girl. She as well as everyone in Maycomb knows good and well that my Tom didn’t do anything to her. She liked him and wanted him to like her and felt embarrassed when he wouldn’t give into her trying to lead him on. I’m not sure if her dad beat her or not but I do know that her daddy was furious when he saw his daughter pushing herself onto a black man. I wish Tom would’ve not even agreed to help her at all he probably would have got in trouble but he sure as hell wouldn’t be dead right now. He just had to be an amazingly nice person no that that’s a bad thing but in this situation, it was, I wouldn’t have minded if he ignored her as he walked by. Right now, I think I just hate all of Maycomb and maybe the entire world I just don’t know why they had to take away the person that I loved the most. I don’t know why god would do this to me I thought he loved me, at least that’s what Rev. Sykes always tells us at church. Now the only thing that I feel like I have to live for is my children and if it weren’t for them, I probably would have committed suicide by now. I mean I probably don’t have the best assessment of why everything happened the way it did but I definitely hope I’m able to figure it out. All of the things that have happened within the past month have defiantly been inconvenient and I don’t consent any of this at all. No normal person would consent their husband being accused of a crime he didn’t do and then being killed at that. He allegedly tried to escape from the jail but I know my Tom and I really don't think he would do that they probably just killed him. I don’t know what I am going to do but I guess I have a while to think about it.

Journal #6 Chapters: 16-19 Perspective: Mr. Ewell

2009-05-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

I’m starting to get very nervous. The chief, Mayella, and I all had the story worked out. We thought of all the questions they could possibly ask us and that Atticus is still finding ways to catch us in a lie and to make the defendant seem innocent. I don’t understand why he has to ask so many questions why can’t he just be a normal person that don’t even try to defend niggers. As of now, I don’t like him not one bit and to me, he ain’t no better than a nigger with no job and twenty babies. He over here tryna prove how I aint a good pop and all but I’m the best pop I’ll ever know at least I aint raisin my kids to be darn nigger lovers. It’s hard raising eight kids with no help at all. There’s no joy in the world the only joy I get is when I gota big bottle of whisky in my hand. Indulging myself in the liquor is my only way out, my only way away from this case my only escape from this here world, I don’t worry about a darn thing. Sometimes I just think about taking myself out of this world but then I think about my kids and how they would have to be separated from each other with no one in their life. Not that I really make a difference in their lives any way but I reckon I’m better than nothing. Man all of this liein kinda got me down lately now I wish I hada never called the police no one would have saw her bruises no way and I could have kept this whole thing quite. Well right now I just gota let out what really happened all that Tom Robinson said happened was right far as I know and when I walked to the window and saw him backing up toward the door and her coming after him, it made me furious. Not really at him but at my daughter she embarrassed me so much. I ran in that house so fast, she didn’t even have time to take a step then I pulled her by the hair, threw her to the ground, and from what I can remember, I just started beating and beating until my little bit of since came back to my mind. I think that it was the alcohol that made me act that way I had just finished a bottle of some stuff I don’t even remember what it was. That was the worse I ever beat her and I think I jut took out all my anger at the world, life, and what she had done. She finally crawled to the phon and called the chief. He came very soon, too fast for me to come up with a story of what happened so I just ended up telling him the truth. Me, The Chief and Mayella all sat there for three hours getting the story straight. At first we were gona say that she went on to him and he proceeded but then she changed her mind and said stop but he wouldn’t. We thought that would make Mayella look bad for coming on to him so that is when we came up with the final story. I told Mayella that it would happen to her again if she didn’t stick with the story and I think that scared her enough. Mayella was closed to getting beat as soon as we got home when she told Atticus that I was tolerable cept when but then she didn’t finish it. I swear if she would have finished that sentence, I would be in jail right at this moment. I just hope that Tom Robinson is sentenced to the death penalty so that this town can live in peace and things can go back to the way they were. I mean you could say that I feel a little sorry for the fellow he didn’t do nuthin but not that much after all, he aint nothin but a nigger.

Journal #5 Chapters: 13-15 Perspective: Aunt Alexandria

2009-05-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a long couple of weeks. I came here intending to teach my niece how to live up to being the woman that can carry on the Finch name with pride until she gets married and takes her husbands last name. However, I feel like I am of no use at all they have Calpurnia to do all the cooking, cleaning and scolding and their father to do more scolding. I’m just here to sit back and watch Atticus raise his children like animals, occasionally I put up a fight with Atticus for the things that I feel strong enough about and even then, things usually don’t go my way. Scout wanted to go over Calpurnia’s and I said absolutely no. What does a white person look like in a place of all Negros? Plus, that’s just plain out unsafe those people might try to do something to Scout, but no her father doesn’t see that he just looks at Negros like they’re regular civilized people. I don’t even trust Calpurnia, she’s worked for us Finches long as I can remember and she probably has all kinds of built up anger against us and no telling what she might try to do to those kids when she gets the chance. If I ever tried to explain this to Atticus, he would think I was some crazy person but if something happens to those kids, it would be all of his fault for putting so much trust into Calpurnia and those other Negros. I tried to get him to get rid of her but he absolutely refuses and says she’s apart of the family and I’ll be damned if she’s ever apart of my family. Well now all this talk about Calpurnia got me thinking about the Tom Robinson case. I can’t believe that my brother, a person that was raised by the same parents as me, would be dumb enough to defend him. The guy raped a white little girl and even if he really didn’t do it like Atticus says, he would stand no chance at the trial just because the girl said he did it. That’s just how it works around here and all the other places in the U.S. that I know of, a black person’s word would never over ride anything said by a white person. This case is a waist of my brother’s time and it’s not going to end up doing anything but making him a disgrace to our whole family and even more of a disgrace than Joshua who cost the family $500. I just wish Atticus could see the pain and humility that he was going to cause his family before he took on this case. It even affects his very own children I know they go through town and a lot of people look down upon them. I know this because if they weren’t my niece and nephew, I would be one of those people looking at them in disgust. I just hope with all my heart that no one tries to harm Atticus or any his family for what he has done. My brother’s outrageous and embarrassing decision to accept this case has set such a bad example for Jem and Scout. Atticus already couldn’t raise those kids right before this case and now he can’t raise them right and they are starting not even to mind him. He told me that they snuck out last night and he did nothing to punish them. I was outraged when I herd this because I couldn’t believe they could do something that bad and not even get in trouble for it. Atticus said that he was having a meeting with some people and the kids just all of a sudden run right into the circle and doing something like that in my eyes is way beyond disrespectful. They were with there friend Dill who probably put them up to the whole thing. I don’t understand why my brother allows his kids to play with Dill, he is obviously setting a bad example for the kids and teaching them to act even worse than they already do. The boy ran I don’t know how many miles away from home for heavens sake and probably trying to get Scout and Jem to do the same. All I know is this is one twisted family and I will have to do my best to straighten them out while I’m here. I just prey to god that everything turns out alright.

Journal #4 Chapters: 10-12 Perspective: Mrs. Dubose

2009-05-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

I’m pretty sure that my body is almost free of the toxins that I’ve been poisoning myself with for many years. I wish the doctors would have never prescribed morphine. I wish I just would have suffered the little bit of pain and I wouldn’t have to go through this horrible pain trying to get this drug out of my system. I hate it when I go into my spells. It’s like I can feel what’s going on but I can’t control it and its embarrassing having Jesse see me like that. I know she’s nothing but a nigger but still she might go back home and tell all of her nigger friends about what I look like. After I’m done with my spells, there’s always so much drool all over my face. The pain is so horrible every day, I have unbearable pains in my stomach, I constantly throw up, and I feel so weak. The only thing that keeps me from picking up that pill bottle and popping a couple in my mouth is the fact that I will be able to die with pride knowing that I didn’t die a drug addict. I know that these drugs are the perilous things that are causing me to die anyways. Another thing is I’m not going to die lonely. That snot nosed brat of a little kid, Jem, tore up my whole entire yard along with the flowers I love the most. I tried not to get mad because I knew that father of his would make him pay for it. Atticus is such a bad dad and probably won’t even lick’em for this but oh don’t get me wrong he did have to pay. Jem ended up coming to my house that very night and told me that he would work on my yard and apologized. I could tell he didn’t really mean it but that’s okay at least it came out of his mouth that enough was punishment for him. I told him that I wanted him to read to me every day for two hours for a month and I knew he wanted to contradict my wishes but that dad of his sure would make him. That was until I was supposed to die and would keep me from dieing lonely like I have been half of my life. The truth is, I’ve always liked Jem I know that he is a truly nice child and I just haven’t given him the chance to show that to me. The fact is that both of those kids mind their dad without him ever having to lay a hand on them even thought they might find him Another thing is I’m not going to die lonely. That snot nosed brat of a little kid, Jem, tore up my whole entire yard along with the flowers I love the most. I tried not to get mad because I knew that father of his would make him pay for it. Atticus is such a bad dad and probably won’t even lick’em for this but oh don’t get me wrong he did have to pay. Jem ended up coming to my house that very night and told me that he would work on my yard and apologized. I could tell he didn’t really mean it but that’s okay at least it came out of his mouth that enough was punishment for him. I told him that I wanted him to read to me every day for two hours for a month and I knew he wanted to contradict my wishes but that dad of his sure would make him. That was until I was supposed to die and would keep me from dieing lonely like I have been half of my life. The truth is, I've always liked Jem I know that he is a truly nice child and I just haven’t given him the chance to show that to me. The fact is that both of those kids mind their dad without him ever having to lay a hand on them even thought they might find him cantankerous. The inconspicuous only reason why I’m never nice to kids is because when I was a kid myself, I was abandoned by my parents and thrown on the streets. Finally someone found me and allowed me to live with her and her husband. They had two kids, one that was one of my contemporaries and one a couple years older than me. The kids did not like me for some odd reason and would always set me up and make it seem like I was doing bad things when it was really them. Finally the parents were fed up and through me out of their house and ever since then, I vowed not to like kids and to always make them feel as those two kids in the house made me feel.

Journal #3 Chapters 8-9 Perspective: Uncle Jack

2009-05-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

I 'm happy to be with all of the family. Scout is my favorite of the little ones she is one different character. She won't take any mess from anyone and doesn't really care about living up to the expectations of others like her aunt thinks she should be more lady like and act like a woman and that is in no way of her interest. I think she will follow in her father's footsteps and become a lawyer of some sort because she is always able to argue her case. Today for instance, Scout called her cousin a “whore lady” and that was all I knew of the situation and I still proceeded to lick her. I didn't know why she had called him that and I didn't know what he did to her, all I did was went straight to the lickings. After that, Scout was very angry with me and he father took her and Jem home. I went their house to explain what led up to that consequence and Scout ended up explaining something to me. Of course I told her that she deserved the whooping for using that sort of language when I had told her not to earlier in the day. She explained to me how I only took the time to listen to one side of the story and that I told her she could only use that language in extreme situations. This happened to be an extreme situation, see her cousin was talking bad about her dad and of course she wouldn't stand for that. I think if I would have taken the time and herd that, I would have never whipped her in the first place but I was so interested in showing the family that I knew how to be a good father. After she explained this to me, I was very mad at myself for doing that to my favorite niece.

Now the only possible way that I can repay her is by keeping this from her dad. Scout promised her dad she wouldn't get mad when people talked bad about him and she broke it. I don't blame her, I think that if I were in that situation I would have done the same thing I can't stand people talking about anyone in my family. Then again, I also feel bad about keeping something from my own brother but I know I owe at least that to Scout. All of this is the exact reason why I can't have any kids, I don't really understand them like Scout said. I'm not like my brother, I don't really think I have the patience or time to raise a child and I hate the fact of staying with one woman for the rest of my life. I mean, what if I get tired of her and we separate then I would be a disgrace to all of the town. No one marries and then splits up. So I would only have two choices, stay with the woman and be miserable for the rest of my life, or separate from her and be looked down upon by everyone.

I am kind of jealous of my brother's ability to raise two wonderful children without a wife and still balance having a very good job. I think that if I were to have kids they would grow up like the Ewells and I'd rather not have children than have them act like that family. I think that I would be ready one day but today or and day soon is not the time. For now the closest to kids I will have is my nieces and nephews that I see all but once or twice a year. I hope my family does understand that and doesn't consider me any less of a man just because I don't want a wife or children. Well I have to go I have a patient that should be here in a little while.

Journal #2 Chapters: 4-7 Perspective:Dill

2009-05-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

10:15 am The great summer has just started. I am so excited to go to Maycomb to be with the woman I love most, Scout, and I guess I'm a little excited to see Jem. I am going to ask Scout to marry me when I get there. I'm a little nervous I think she might laugh at me because of how short and fat I am. Oh how do I hope that she will love me like I love her and I also hope that she will say yes when I purpose to her. I wonder where I will find the money to buy her a ring oh I guess I'll just buy her one of those candy ones you get at the corner store. I really do hope she takes me seriously otherwise my heart will be broken forever. Well that's enough about that. Right now I'm on the train heading for Maycomb and I am more excited than anyone can imagine. I need to think about games Scout, Jem, and I will play once I arrive hmmm I think that the Tarzan game is definitely a possibility. With most of our games we use picture shows and act them out. One day I want to be the star of one of those picture shows and I want Scout to be the co-star and one day hopefully we will produce our own picture show together. I also want to get a chance to see Boo Radley every summer I go to Maycomb I never see him but this time will be different I think that Jem and I need to utilize all the ideas we've come up with until we see Mr. Arther Radley. I really don't know why this is so important to me but I don't know something inside of me makes me really want to see him. Well the train is about to stop so I have to go but I'll right about my first day in Maycomb later on tonight. 9:00 pm Today was such a good and fun day. It was even better than I thought it would be. When I got off the train, Auntie Rachel and I got to ride in a taxi all the way to her house from the train station. It wasn't very long of a drive but it was an honor to be riding in Maycomb's very only taxi. After that, I ate dinner and then I was off the play with Jem and Scout. As we tried to figure out what we should play, I said that we should play Tom, Dick and Sam because that would mean that everyone of us would get a good part and not feel mad because we got a little, unimportant part. Scout ended up not wanting to play it because she was tired of it but I just could not see how she could get tired of that great game. Then Scout suggested that Jem made up a game and he said that he was tired of making them up. I was amazed at how tired they were on the first day of summer break. Then I had this really strange smell that I had only smelled about twice before and the people I had smelled it on died. I smelled it down the street toward the Radley place and I did not like that. I told Scout and Jem about what I smelled and I think that made them scared so they told me to hush as if I were making it all up. Then Jem told me about the “Hot Steams”. He explained that its someone that isn't able to get into heaven and they just walk around on roads that people rarely drive by and if you walk through one of them, when you die, you will become one also. I almost peed my pants of terror until Scout assured me that it wasn't real and it was just a story. I think Jem got kind of frustrated with how Scout contradicted him. Then we began rolling in the tire and that made me feel bad because I couldn't even fit in the tire so only Scout and Jem could play. Jem ended up pushing Scout into the Radley's yard and I was scared for her life. I was expecting Boo to come out any second to get all of us but at least I would have seen him before he ate me and I died. Well it's time for me to go to sleep so I can get ready for the next adventure filled day ahead of me.

Journal #1 Chapters 1-3 Persective: Atticus

2009-05-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Today was among the many long days at work. I didn't have a trial but I was in the office doing tons of paper work. It's funny to think about when I first wanted to become a lawyer, I thought all it was was going to court, arguing someones case, and having a sort of debate with the attorney of the opposite side when it is really so much more. All I could see was the fun part of being a lawyer I looked right past all the work, stress, and time this profession takes. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my job, but oh how I wish I could have more time to spend with my children. I feel like they are growing up so fast and I am missing out on a big chunk of their life. Their mom died and their dad is always away at work, thank God for Calpurnia if it wasn't for her, they would have little to no one in their life to raise them right. I know I should stop all my complaining because things could be way worse for us and they aren't. At least we are able to have a good meal every night unlike poor little Walter Cunningham. Scout was telling me about how the teacher was checking to make sure everyone had lunch and he had none. The kind teacher tried to hand him a quarter but of course he refused because the Cunninghams never take anything they can't pay back. I'm a little surprised that he came to our house for dinner but I am happy. It makes me sad to sit and think about all of the people that are rarely able to eat a good meal while I sit at the table and eat until I am full. I am very grateful that I am able to have a stable job and my kids don't have to starve. Oh yeah back to how dinner went with Little Walter Cunningham. It was good I wish that he would have taken a plate home but he was already dis obeying his father by being here. He was so excited to have some molasses that he drowned all of his food in it. Even his green vegetables and I think he wouldn't have stopped until the bucket was empty but Scout opened her big mouth. She probably made the boy feel bad which made me very mad he hadn't eaten in days and he was just taking advantage of the good meal that he was able to eat. I was thinking about what I should do about what Scout said but before I could do anything Calpurnia called her into the kitchen and scolded her. I think that my kids take the fact that they are able to have food every night for granted and they really don't appreciate it. I think one day I will show them what it is like not to have food that way they will really be able to appreciate it. Scout had her first day of school today and from what I was told, it wasn't the best experience for her. She instantly got in trouble because of the fact that she knew how to read and I thought that might be a problem when she went to school because of course the teachers want to feel like they have something to teach and also the fact that the teacher has quite eccentric teaching methods. Then that whole thing with Walter Cunningham went on and Scout, not taking into consideration that the teacher was indigenous to the town, tried to explain why he wouldn't take it. All Scout said was that he was he was a Cunningham and yeah that would have been enough information for people that live in this town but to the teacher, it meant nothing. Everyone in our town knows each other and the living conditions of them. The Cunninghams are a very poor family and everyone knows that so all the kids of course knew that was the reason he had no lunch and wouldn't accept the quarter but the teacher didn't. Because of all this, Scout did not want to go back to school and thought it would be acceptable for her to only go the first day like Berris Ewell, a student in her in her class. I would never let her do that because that boy and his family are looked down upon by the whole town and I would not want her doing anything like him. People don't like them because they have a sort of malevolent attitude . I want my kids to get a good education unlike most of the kids in this town that rarely ever even pass the first grade. Scout and I ended up compromising, she would go to school every day, and her and I would continue to read together every night. Overall, this has been a long, tiring day. I think I should be heading to bed now seeing that I have a long day of work ahead of me. I hope that tomorrow will be a better day for Scout than today but I think she will do just fine. Her bold and outspokenness takes a little time to get used to and can tend to irk people but I'm sure the teacher will grow accunstomed to it.

Immigration Project Reflection

2009-03-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

Immigration Project Reflection

The very first thing that we did during the immigration project was we all read books about people that immigrated to America and the things they had to overcome. The book that I chose was A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and I basically chose it because after reading the descriptions and synopsis, it sounded interesting. I am very happy that I chose this book because I absolutely loved it and it made my reading experience so much better than it has been in the past. I'm the type of person that if the book takes a long time to get interesting, I just get board with it and don't want to read it. I am glad that didn't happen and not only was it interesting in the beginning, but it was very interesting all throughout the book. I even asked my fellow classmates if they enjoyed there book and most of them said that it was either okay or they didn't like it at all so that made me appreciate my decision to read this book. I loved this book so much that I didn't even realize how much I learned from it and when you truly learn things, I don't think you even know until you take the time to think about it. I never even knew that there was a big war in Sierra Leone I've always heard about the war in Uganda but not in Sierra Leone. The person that I interviewed for the immigration project stated that when he came to America, he was surprised how little Americans knew about the rest of the world, and this book made it so that I knew more about another part of the world. I learned about things that the rebels did to the Sierra Leoneans that I never thought humans would be able to do to another human. Such as forcing sons to have sexual intercourse with their mothers. I learned all about the life of Ishmael Beah and how him and his friends were forced to become soldiers at the age of 12. Most importantly, I learned how good things are in America and how I should really be thankful that I don't even have to worry about being forced to become a soldier. Reading this book made my learning experience so wonderful and unforgeable. The only problems that I faced during this section of the project were the blog posts and the responses. I got my book after two blog posts were already due so that made me even more behind and also I would forget to do the responses so that made my grade even lower. Its hard to say why I did so bad and it wasn't even about not reading the book I think I was just being lazy about the blog posts and responses. I think that I liked the format of meeting in person better because it made it harder to not do the written assignment. I think this is because when you showed up to class with nothing done, it makes you feel bad but when you don't do your posts only your group knows.

The second aspect of this project was creating an art piece that has to do with our Lit. Circles novel. I decided to create a different book cover for the book. I knew that I'm not good at drawing people so I had to do something that did not include people. At first it was kind of hard to think an idea but Mrs. G suggested that I draw the country with some type of design and that is what I did. In my book, the first gun that Ishmael got when he became a soldier was and AK 47 and I knew that was something that I should definitely include in my drawing. I wanted to draw blood on the country to signify all of the people that were being killed during the war but I couldn't really make it look good so I decided not to do that. I included all of this in my book cover along with the colors of the Sierra Leonean flag. I was very happy with the way my final sketch turned out and I thought that it was very nice. My final painted product however, didn't turn out as good as I hoped it would and it kind of looked different from my final sketch because the colors were darker. Once I think about it, I think that I should have put the American flag colors inside of Sierra Leone to show how Ishmael went from Sierra Leone to America. I think I would also try to use something other than paint to color my final product because I'm not very good at painting.

The last thing that we had to do was interview a person that immigrated to the U.S. That has a different ethnic background as you. We also have to give our interviewees a gift to thank them for there time and participation in this project. I got the honor of interviewing Meseret's dad, Mr. Ghirmai, and he was great throughout this whole project. He made it so that it was very easy for me to get in contact with him and get all of the information that I needed. He answered all of my questions in detail so that I really didn't even have the need to ask any follow up questions and I thought that it was such an amazing experience to hear what he has been through and the stories he told me. The best story was when he told me that someone actually asked him if there are cars in Africa and he said that he told them, “No we ride Lions and Tigers to school and work every day”. I liked it because it was very funny. Another thing that I liked about our in- person interview was that he made it so that everything wasn't all serious and told funny stories about his experiences. In my first interview I learned that Mr. Ghirmai had to choose whether he wanted to live around Boston or California and he chose California because he visited both of those places during the winter and California had better weather. At first I thought that it was crazy that his decision was based on a thing as simple as whether and then I realized that's how a lot of people make their decision. He also said that he dislikes when people consider him and his children less American than them just because he was born in Eritrea, people considered them Africans when they are as much American as us and this really opened my eyes because with out even noticing it, in the back of my mind I really didn't see them as Americans until he said that. I am so glad I had the chance to interview Mr. Ghirmai because if I didn't, I think the image of why people came to America in my mind would have still been blurry but the interview with him cleared it up more. I think the only way for the image to become more clear is if I immigrated myself and I don't think that will happen. I am aware that some people didn't have the same experience with the interview as me and I think that next time Mrs. G should thoroughly talk to the interviewees to make sure that they are fully committed to the project. That way there won't be the issue of not being able to get in touch with people.

A Long Way Gone Book Review

2009-03-15T22:04:00.001-07:00

A Long Way Gone is thus far one of my most favorite books. This book is an autobiography on the author’s life as a child soldier. A Long Way Gone is full of so much action that makes you not want to ever stop reading. This book triggers every single emotion that you can think of and makes you happy, sad, excited, and surprised. I would recommend this book to teen aged readers because the content is a little heavy and may not be suitable for younger students. A Long Way Gone is definitely a book that everyone must read in some point in their life time. Ishmael lived in Sierra Leone during the time of the war. The rebels took everything from him his family, his childhood, and some of his friends. As Ishmael continues running away from the rebels, he runs into the army fighting against the rebels and joins the army with intentions of getting revenge for the loss of his family and friends. As Ishmael gets deeper into the war, he begins turning into a killing monster that has no mercy upon any of the rebels. Finally he is taken out of the war and rehabilitated and turned back into the troublesome kid that he was before the war had started. A long the way, he meets many people that made a big difference in his life. A quote from the book that shows how the war affected Ishmael is "My uncle and the rest of my new family were smiling and laughing at the stories of a deep voiced poet. I could not do either. I unfortunately reminded myself of the sight of the burning village and not to get exited for something that wasn't going to happen." The war got in the way of him being able to be happy. Even though he escaped the war, it still has control over him and made it so that any time there was a happy moment, all he could think about was him killing people. The war sincerely took Ishmael’s childhood away from him and he was forced to think like and become and adult while he was a soldier. The happiest part of the book is when Ishmael moves in with his uncle and he is able to live life as if the war never happened. He goes back to being a child and getting into the trouble that a normal child gets in. For example, him and his cousin sneak out of the house and go to a night party. He dances with a girl and they soon became boyfriend and girlfriend. Ishmael goes back to school and is looked at differently by the other kids because of the fact that he has been at war, but he doesn’t really allow that to bother him. The most important thing is that he has a family again and is able to live a normal life with a mom, dad, and siblings. Overall, I feel that this was a very good book and I’m not the only one who thinks that because my group feels the same way. I think that everyone should be required to read this book in schools so that they can see how fortunate they are to not have to go through things like that. I guarantee you that if you read this book, you will never want to put it down and your eyes would be glued to the pages.

A Long Way Gone #6

2009-03-12T02:34:00.000-07:00

Page: 209 Paragraph: 3 Ishmael Quote: " I had to leave, because I was afraid that if I stayed in Freetown any longer, I was doing to end up being a soldier again or one of my former army friends would kill me if I refused." Significance: This relates to the question that asks why the character in my book moved to America. I feel that he shows this very well in this situation and that it was a good quote to go along with that question. I also chose this quote because it really struck me to see that Ishmael was basically being forced out of his own country with out any family or friends. Character Judgment: I think that Ishmael was going to miss all of his friends and his family that he was going to have to leave behind in Sierra Leone, however, he knows that if he stays there he will end up dieing before he reaches his adulthood. I feel that the journey that lies ahead of him will also put his life in great danger but he has to take the risk in order to be free from worries of the war. Question: Do you think that Ishmael made a wise choice to go to America if he knew he could die on the way? Page: 215 Paragraph: 1 Ishmael Quote: "At one of the road blocks the so;doers tool me into a room and make me undress. At first I didn't want to take off my cloths, but I saw them kick a man to the floor and rip his shirt and pants." Significance: This has to do with how his journey was coming to America. His journey took a very long time just to get to the airport so that he could get on the plane to America. At every checkpoint, they would make the people get off the bus and they would search them. The soldiers weren't nice at all and they often times threatened to kill the people if they didn't listen to what they said to do. Character Analysis: I think that Ishmael was nervous the first couple of checkpoints but then he became used to getting stopped. If I were in Ishmael's position, I think that I would not be able to be as brave as he was throughout the trip. I don't even think that I would want to go on that trip all alone. I think that Ishmael knows in his heart that he will make it to where he needs to go safely. Question: What did you think about the ending of the book? Why?

A long Way Gone # 5

2009-03-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Page: 115 and 116 Paragraph: 1 Ishmael Quote: "All I could do is rub their heads and assure them that everything might be alright" Significance: I chose this quote because it struck me because usually when someone is trying to reassure another person, they tell them that everything is going to be all right and in this case, he couldn't tell the boys that. This tells me how fortunate I am to be able to almost be sure that when I wake up tomorrow everything is going to be alright. I know that people could die any time but I'm just saying that I have more of a chance to wake up in the morning and be safe than these boys did. Character Judgment: I know for a fact that Ishmael had to be very scared. This was the first time he was going out to really fight and he doesn't know if that will be the last time he gets to wake up in the morning. I think that a part of him is kind of excited that he finally gets to get back at the rebels for all of the bad things that they did to his family but on the other hand, he would much rather not have to fight in the war. Question: At this moment in time, what do you think Ishmael was thinking? Quote 2: Page: 152 Paragraph: 2 Alhaji ""She likes you", Alhaji teased me. I didn't say anything." Significance: I chose this quote because it made me feel good that the boys were out of the war and they finally had time to be regular teenagers and think about girls and things like that. This made me laugh because it sounds like something that my friends would say to me and that is another reason why I liked this quote. I also think that it was good to read a part of the book that wasn't gruesome and inflicted with violence but this was an up spirited section of the book. Character Judgment: Alhaji has become Ishmael's best friend and they were together through most of the war. I think that Alhaji is what kept Ishmael going and fighting for his life otherwise Ishmael probably would have gave up hope. Alhaji is a nice boy however, like Ishmael, he was taken away his childhood and kind of forced into adolescents. He is also recovering greatly from the horrors of the war. Question: Why do you think the boys needed rehabilitation after leaving the war?

A Long Way Gone #4

2009-03-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

pg. 69 paragraph: 1 Ishmael Quote: "One of the unsettling things about my journey, mentally, physically and emotionally, was I wasn't sure when or where it was going to end." 1. I chose this quote because as I thought about how hard this journey is for him, I never would have thought that was what was bothering him the most. As I thought about this particular quote I realized how much that would bother me too going on for days and days not knowing when you'll be able to rest and not have to worry about so many things going on. This is something that most people would probably over look and wouldn't even think of bothering them after all that they've been through but when the author states it you realize that it makes since. 2. I think that it was a good thing that the author put that little detail in the book because like I said, I think that people would have overlooked that fact of the matter. It really makes it so that people can imagine how hard the journey must have been especially if you already lost your family then you have no motivation to move on in the journey. You basically have no reason to live. Question: Would you want to live if you don't know how long you would have to stay on this journey and your the only one left in your family? pg. 80 paragraph 1 Ishmael Quote: "Saidu sat in the attic, holding his breath and listening to the wailing of his sisters as the rebels raped them". 1. I chose this quote because a lot went on in the book and this was the first time this book made me cry. I couldn't imagine how Saidu felt not being able to help his sisters and just having to sit there and listen. I don't know what I would do in his position. I would probably have no choice but to do the same as him. 2. I think that there wasn't anything that Saidu could do but just sit there he would only be killed and they would end up raping his sisters anyways. I think he felt very sad and angry at the same time sad because that was happening to his sisters and angry because he couldn't do anything to stop it. Question: If you were in Saidu's position and happened to find a gun in the attic, what would you do?

A Long Way Gone #3

2009-03-06T22:46:00.000-08:00

pg: 57 paragraph: 1 Old Man Quote: " Everyone ran when they heard of the 'seven boys' on there way here. I couldn't run at all. So they left me behind. No one was willing to carry me and I didn't want to be a burden," he said." 1. I chose this quote because it struck me to see how people were so concerned about there own lives that they would leave an elderly person behind to die. I was also surprised how the old man didn't really care that he was going to die it just seems like he was calm and had already accepted that he was going to die. I think that if I were in that situation, I would just have to take the old man with me and risk my own life because I would die with pride. 2. I think that he made the right choice to not put himself on other people and make them carry him and be a burden, he would rather spend the last days of his live happy than on the run putting other peoples lives in danger. I think that this man is very courageous to be able to make that choice to let himself die and not other people. I think that if I were in his shoes I wouldn't be able to make that important decision to let myself die I think I would just have to be a burden on other people. Question: What do you think you would have done if you were in the position of the old man? pg. 67 paragraph:4 Ishmael Quote: " I rewound the tape, mimed, and danced to "OPP" barefoot in the sand. I didn't enjoy it, and for the first time I found myself thinking about the words of the song, closely listening to the subtle instruments in the beat." 1. I chose this quote because I felt that I could connect to it a lot more than anything else that went on in the book. I think that it was very power full to see that this was the second time that he recited this rap and it got him and his friends out of being killed. It was also funny to see that the thing that you would think would help Ishmael the least in life ended up saving his life on numerous occasions. 2. I can connect with this because I really enjoy hip hop music and most of the time when I like a song, I don't listen to the actual lyrics of the song and what they mean and all I hear is the beat and words coming out that mean nothing. For example, I would be singing a song and say something and someone would be shocked that I actually sang that part of the song and the whole time I was singing the song, I didn't even know what the word meant. Then I would be embarrassed that I was sitting there singing the song the whole time not even knowing what I'm singing. Question: Was there ever a point in your life where you too could connect to how Ishmael felt when he recited the song?

A Long Way Gone #2

2009-03-01T20:04:00.001-08:00

"Are you rebels or spies?" The chief stamped his staff on the ground. pg. 38 Narrator 1. I chose this quote because it really struck me emotionally to see that these boys were so close to death. This made me feel very scared for the boys and wonder if they were going to make it out alive. I was also mad that the town saw a twelve year old boy and could even think that he was a rebel or spie. 2.The character ran and ended getting caught by the men of the tribe. I think that the boy felt very scared and did not want to die. It was also very painful for him to get tied up like that. I think that Ishmael and the other kids made the right choice to run away from the men I feel that they did the best they could to not get caught. Why do you think the Villagers would think that the boys were spies or rebels? "Show us what you've got" they said, clapping and circling me. pg. 71 The Dancers 1. I chose this quote because it made me feel happy that they were finally having a good moment even though they had to go through a lot. This was finally a time where the kids didn't have to focus on what was going on around them and they only focused on what they were doing at that moment in time. My reaction and mood just turned around when I read this part of the book. 2. I can connect to this part of the book because I've had times when I was feeling down and I went to a party and forgot about everything. Any time I'm feeling down about things, parties just make me feel better like I can dance away my troubles. What was your reaction when you read this quote in the book?

A Long Way Gone #1

2009-02-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

Quote: Page- 19 Paragraph-3 "A shudder racked my body, and i tried to thinking about my new like in New York City where I had been for over a month. But my mind wandered back across the Atlantic ocean to Sierra Leone. " Ishmael Significance: This shows a hardship that Ishmael had to face when he came to the U.S. He had to face having to remember those terrible days he spent a soldier back in Africa. This shows that these things scar people for life and you can't just forget about them even if you start a whole new life in another country. Personal Connection: I can connect with this quote because when my parents got a divorce it kind of affected my life for good. I couldn't sit there and forget that it happened all I could do was accept the fact that things didn't work out and it wasn't at all my fault. My experience isn't any where as bad as Ishmael's but I'm just saying that he could chose to make the same decision of accepting that the war wasn't his fault and him having to go through those types of things was for a reason. And the best thing for him to do would be just move on with his life and not let that hold him back like I had to do with my parent's divorce. Question: Why do you think the author decided to right in present tense in only the second chapter? Quote: Page-23 Paragraph- 2 "When the Rebels finally came, I was cooking................." "It is just the soldiers testing their weapons" Ishamael and One of the friends Significance: The first quote shows that while the kids were traveling trying to keep away from the Rebels, Ishmael took over the lead role and was acting as the parent sort of. He was cooking for every one and was probably the only one that actually knew how to cook. It also shows how every one looks up to him in a way and will follow what he says. Character Judgment: I don't think that every one that was in the house made a wise choice to just decide that nothing was going. I think that if they would have realized that it was the soldiers they would have been able to hide and that would have avoided them a lot more danger. So over all I think they could have made a more wise decision than that especially if they had been waiting for the Rebels to come. Question: What do you think a better way would have been for those characters to react to the first gun shots they herd?

Field Trip Refection

2009-02-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

When I went to Haven to Home museum we learned about how life was in the old days for Jews and what they had to do to come to America. Jewish people lived in many places and there was about 28 adults and 8 children that first came to America. All of these people settled in New Amsterdam (New York). Most of the Jews that lived down South believed in slavery and most of the Jews that lived up North didn’t believe in slavery. The Jewish migrating to the U.S. open the doors to a lot of other ethnicities moving to the U.S. This made it so that our country is the diverse country it is today. The most interesting thing that I learned was that one time 20,000 woman decided to protest Kosher Butchers and they took all the meat and threw it in the streets and it resulted in Kosher Butchers lowering their meat prices. 1. The quote that I chose was “If we stayed in Bosnia we would have been killed. Although no one can predict the future, just imagine a seven year-old child wondering if he would be killed or the next day spared in this world we call our home.” I chose this quote because it really touched me to see that in some parts of the world kids aren’t as safe as they are in the U.S and that made just appreciate how safe I feel in my country. 2. I picked an essay that showed the difference between life in the U.S. and life in Afghanistan. This girl says that in Afghanistan, she had to sleep on a concrete floor with hardly any blankets while it was snowing outside and now that she moved to the U.S. she sleeps in a bed with tons of blankets and a heater by her side. I chose this quote because it showed how fortunate I am to never have had to sleep on a concrete floor in the cold. I also liked the way this quote gave me a vivid picture of how things were in her old country. 3. I chose a photo of a Nigerian family that just arrived at the American airport. The picture has one Father and five people that looked like they could be his kids. You can tell that they were immigrants because they were wearing this beautiful foreign clothing. The people look excited to start a new life and also scared because they are in a new country and might not understand what the people around them are talking about. I chose this picture because I thought that it was a good picture that shows what the immigrants felt when they first came to the U.S.

IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS

2009-02-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

An immigrant is a person that moves from one country to another country legally. They would have most likely moved because the living conditions in their country aren’t to their standards of or they just want to start a new life in a new country. Most immigrants move to the U.S . because we have a lot of things and opportunities that most countries don’t have to offer. Our country has a good education program and it is required for kids to go to school but in some countries, it’s not required for kids to go to school and they end up having to work instead of getting a good education. A lot of immigrants coming to the U.S ., and this helps us because it allows us to have diversity in our country. If we didn’t have immigrants in our country, we probably wouldn’t be able to eat the different types of food that we eat and we would have to stick to the basic American food. I have a friend named Kimberly that is an immigrant and she came from Colombia. She said that it is very different out here than in Colombia. She said that she misses it in Colombia but she likes it out her e better. None of my immediate family is an immigrant however my grandma’s parents were from Mexico and they came to the U.S to start a new family and also to have a better life for their family.

Book Review Of Mice and Men

2009-01-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

Book Review I think that overall, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was a good book and it was very interesting. George is one of the main characters and he travels every where with this mentally challenged boy named Lennie. Lennie is very big, isn’t very smart, and a strong very good worker and George is small, very smart, and an average worker. They had a job in a town called Weed, but Lennie gets in trouble there so they were forced to leave and look for new jobs. They end up going to a ranch where there are many workers. I would recommend this book to eighth graders because I feel that it would be too hard for younger students to understand. I also think this book would have more meaning to kids in the eighth grade. In my opinion, this book started off kind of boring because it didn't hold my interest but once I got towards the middle, it got very good. My favorite part of the book is when George, Lennie, and Candy make a plan to get the land that they have always dreamed of having. They were also very motivated and focused on the dream and really nothing else. George had the chance to go to a whore house and when he got there, he decided to only have a drink so that he could save up hid money for the little piece of land. This part seemed like a part where every one was happy and nothing bad was running through their minds. This is the only book that has ever made me cry and trust me it is hard for me to start crying. George ended up killing Lennie because Lennie killed a woman and he would have got hung but George was smart and did not want Lennie to die that painful death. Instead, George was going to shoot him in the back of the neck so that Lennie would die instantly with out feeling a thing. This part of the book really makes you want to be mad at George for doing that and it makes you wonder why they couldn’t just run away again like they did from Weed. It also makes you want to be mad at Lennie for being so dumb and not just letting go of the woman that he killed when she started to scream. I was able to make a big connection to this book and The Lord of the Flies because in Mice of Men, there is a time where Lennie goes crazy and starts talking to a rabbit and the rabbit is telling him all of the bad things that he has done. This reminded me of the part of The Lord of the Flies when Simon goes crazy and starts talking to the pig and the pig is actually the evil side of Simon. I thought that this was important because it showed that when people go crazy, they begin to see all of the bad things that they have done in their life. In conclusion, I felt that this was a very good and surprising book. It will defiantly take you through an emotional roller coaster because you go from being happy to sad to disappointed and so on. I feel that if you are into very dramatic books then you should certainly read Of Mice and Men.

Chapter 13 Justice

2008-10-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

The boys all sat eager waiting to be reunited with their families at the police station. All of them had dreamed of this day for many months. They still haven't had a chance to wash the brine completely off of them but they still washed up in the sink as much as they could. Ralph sat thinking about if he should tell the police about what had happened on the island and how Piggy and Simon got killed or not. After a series of thoughts ran through his mind and the dark past of the days of the island ran through his body, he decided that he would. Ralph would never be able to hold his head up with dignity knowing that murder had been committed and nothing was even done. “We all know that Piggy and Simon died and I can't just sit here and let their parents and the people who love them believe that they just disappeared. We all have to turn ourselves in.” “Sucks to Piggy and Simon, we shall never speak of them. I want to go home and I am not about to go to jail because you feel bad about our bloody little friends.” All of the boys nodded their heads as if they agreed with what Jack said. “Well I'm going to tell no matter if you guys like it or not. If this is not brought to justice we shall all rot in hell.” “No, you will not tell. Just because we are not on the island anymore doesn't mean I can't still hunt you down and do you next. That's what shall happen if you go and blab your mouth about stuff that needs to be kept between only us.” “Then you will kill me but at least I will die knowing that I even gave an effort to let people know about what happened. I tell you justice will be served and if you don't like it then oh well”. The boys all had stunned looks on their faces and Ralph could tell that they were terrified at the thought of going to jail. The littluns still had a long life ahead of them and thought of Ralph as being selfish and only wanting to tell because he felt guilty about what had happened. “Do what you wish,” said Jack. “But none of us will admit to it we shall all deny it. We will tell the police that while we were on the island you started to go crazy and started thinking stuff like that was happening but it didn't.” Without taking anymore time to think, Ralph got up and started walking towards the fat police man. He had been sitting down lazily looking like he was day dreaming about the next donut he would be able to eat. Once Ralph got to his destination, the police man was broken from his gaze and asked, “Can I help you with something”. “Yes, well you had asked earlier how those boys died and we said that they just disappeared and we couldn’t find them”. “Yes I reckon that is what happened. Do you have any other information on their deaths?” “Well that wasn't the entire truth. See there was a lot of stuff that happened on island and we started off all together we had a little civilization. Then we started to have problems and ended up splitting up because I was the leader and people didn't like how I lead the group. Jack, the boy with the dark hair, was the leader of the other group. To make a long story short, we all accidentally killed Simon because we thought that he was some type of beastie coming out of the dark. Piggy was killed by Jack and all of the people in his group because one of them threw a big rock at him and it hit him in the head”. “Hold on, so why would that boy kill the other boy you call Piggy?” “Because Jack doesn’t like him I guess. I don't know but Jack is evil and he would do things like that.” “Are you sure that really happened and you just maybe aren't in shock right now? After all, it was a long time being away from home.” “If you're trying to say that I am crazy, that’s not it. I know what happened and justice needs to be brought for Piggy and Simon. They were good boys that didn't deserve to die. Jack and all of his boys need to be put behind bars.” “Alright I don’t think I’m qualified for this. I usually just sit here and make sure everything is going alright. Here let me call some one else.” The officer quickly sat up and began dialing numbers with his chubby fingers. “You do believe me right”. The police man raised up his fat pointer finger to indicate that Ralph should hold on. With the phone to his ear, the police man waited for some one to answer. “Hi I have information on a possible murder and I thought that you should take over from here. O.k., alright, that sounds good. Bye,” says the police man to the other man on the phone. “What did he say”, asked Ralph eagerly. “He said that he will be here as soon as he can”. After a few minutes passed bye, a short kind of fare sized lady busted into the police station. She had her hair pulled into a tight bun and was wearing a florescent long dress. “Where is my sweet nephew Yugine? They said that I could find him here.” “Follow me”, said the police man. He wobbled to where all the boys had been sitting. “Alright which one of you’s is named Yugine” “He’s not here”, said the lady with a sadness to her voice”. “Do any of you boys remember a boy with you named Yugine?” “No. Did he have a nick name,” asked Jack. “Yes he did have a nick name. It was something I remember him telling me that he hated.” “Piggy, said one of the littluns with sorrow in their voice.” “Yah that was it”. Remembering what Ralph had told him, the police man pulled the lady to the side and explained to her that Piggy was among the couple that had died. The lady fell to her knees and began letting out loud cries. The police man stood there embarrassed and not knowing if he should try and comfort her or leave her alone. The boys watched this commotion from a distance and while most of them felt sorry, Jack was sitting there trying to hold in his sniggers. Ralph could see everything that was going on and wanted to kill Jack for what he did to Piggy and Simon and their poor parents. Once the lady calmed down and raised from the floor, the police man said that they have to investigate his death and that they are not sure how he died. “What do you mean you aren’t sure? Well what are the possibilities,” said the lady. “At this point, there is a possibility of murder but there is no more information” “I know that you’d better find out how my nephew died” “We will do the best we can ma’am. I think for as of now you should go home and let us do some further investigation. I will make sure that you are notified about everything we figure out. I understand how hard this has to be for you. “Alright then, I guess I’ll be going” The lady, still weeping, walked out of the police station. The police officer walked back to his desk and Ralph got up and stormed to where the other boys were sitting. “Do you see what you have done”, says Ralph yelling at Jack. “I sure do. I did that lady a favor. She doesn’t see it now but she will soon realize how much of a pain in the butt Piggy was to her”. “You are evil and that is all that you will ever be. This will come back on you. I know it, you will die the most painful death. That’s if you’re not rotting in prison for the rest of your life. I was going to hit you but then I realized that that would have made me no different than you and I would never want that.” “Oh so now I’m such an evil person. You joined the dance. You helped kill Simon. You stabbed one of my men. The thing you haven’t realized yet is you are just like me and if I die a painful death then so will you. If I rot in prison so will you”

LOTF Journal #12

2008-10-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 12 Cry of the Hunters Perspective: Jack

Finally Rescued!

The only thing that I wanted more then to be chief has just happened. Oh boy did Ralph get lucky because I was just about to do him. His head would have been on top of the stick just like that pig's head. He would have got stabbed by all of the boys. But I am just glad that I am on a ship back home finally after all this time how did it take this long for people to find us. I think that we should have set the whole island on fire a long time ago then we would have got rescued. Oh when I first saw that adult with that drill type clothing topped with epaulets, I forgot about Ralph and let out a loud ululation.

How could I have been so dumb I let out that fire that would have let us off this horrible island a long time ago. But on the other hand, I kind of enjoyed not having to listen to the rules of the adults. Once I broke off from being under Ralph's leadership and every one joined my clan, everything was good. I had control over everything it was a little hard but still fun. I didn't have to be fearful of anything where Ralph had to fear my tribe.

While I'm laying in this comfortable bed thinking with my distended belly finally filled all the way with food, if Ralph were to tell about me killing Piggy and trying to kill him, could I be locked up. No I don't think so I think that they would believe it was an accident besides how can a little boy of my age be capable of doing something like that on purpose. I don't feel guilty at all for what happened to Piggy or Simon they were an outcast on the island anyway and they didn't have no reason to live both were nothing but diddles. They had no business doing what they did Simon should have never came to us crawling on all fours and Piggy should have never challenged my boys or I like that. Ralph was next oh boy he got so lucky he was going to suffer the worst death out of anyone. Maybe I have became evil but what reason do I have to be good look where the good Simon and Piggy are. They never even made it off the island. And me the evil all mighty Jack made it off the island stronger then ever.

LOTF Journal# 11

2008-10-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

Chapter# 11 Perspective: Ralph

Alone

Today was the worse day of my life. We went to go get Piggy's Specs from the evil thief Jack. We didn't expect any harm upon any of us we figured that Jack was a normal human being and wouldn't purposely kill any one. Well we were all wrong. It was me Samneric and Piggy. Once we got there we saw Roger and we asked him to speak with Jack. All of the army came along with Jack we weren't very scared we thought that it had only been for show. After a while Jack and I started fighting and all of a sudden a whole bunch of rocks started to fall.

We didn't know what it was but we thought that the army had been throwing rocks at us. Jack captured Samneric and I think he is going to make them stay with him. Piggy had been helpless because I wasn't able to get to him in time I had to protect myself and he couldn't see a thing. Then the worse thing happened a big boulder landed right on his head. I soon realized how evil Jack had become he want even ashamed of killing Piggy all he said was see that is what will happen if you mess with us or something like that. I looked over and saw all of Piggy;'s brains spilling out of his head I wanted to go and hug him but I knew that if I did, I would end up just like him so the first thing that i thought of doing was running. What really sickened me is the fact that Jack seemed nothing but delirious at the sight of this. I didn't understand how he could be so truculent.

Now that I am sitting here thinking back on this day, I just regret how bad that I treated Piggy I didn't ever want to listen to what he has to say and now he is dead and I can't even tell him that I'm sorry. I hoped that the talisman like conch would protect him. I wanted so bad in my heart to put a cessation on that rock but I was physically unable to.I wish that he was still here so that he could help me out. Now i am all alone there' s still some little ones but they can't help out at all I regret ever going to Jack.

LOTF Journal#10

2008-10-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 10 The Shell and the Glasses Perspective: Piggy

My Specs

Today was the day after we all killed Simon. It was truly an accident but most people would look at it as murder. I wasn't scared but it seemed like something took over me while we were doing the dance. We saw something crawling and immediately thought that it was the beast. I can not bare to think of the horrible way that we killed Simon it makes me want to kill myself. We all stabbed him after the first one he was probably still alive but we kept stabbing and stabbing I couldn't stop the thing didn't even look like a beast out of my one eye but I still couldn't stop. Oh I can't believe the pain that Simon had to bare. Sharp sticks going into your body at all parts. He screamed loud I remember that shrieking scream but that thing that took over me would not let me or any of the other boys stop. At that moment I had become Jack and the thought of that makes me want to cry. Today I couldn't do anything but deny what had happened that's the only way that I could go on with out hating myself. Ralph began to talk about it and we both agreed that we were in the back of that circle. We agreed we didn't see anything either. It was the only way to get along. The day went by slowly ad dreadfully. We finally went to sleep and every one was having bad horrible dreams. I'm not sure what they were but the sounds that they made would automatically tell you that they weren't good dreams. Then I heard this noise that made me scared. It made me believe again that the beast was really here on this island. Finally what ever it was came into the shelter we were sleeping in and we began to fight it punches thrown here and there. Until my asthma messed with me and I fell to the ground I had to get my breathing back under control. Once the brawl was over I Ralph told me that it had been Jack and his boys. I thought that they stole the conch at first but then I realized that it was really my specs that they stole. That means that without my sight, I will be as useful as the littluns. They needed something to light a fire. I must get them back.

LOTF Journal #9

2008-10-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 9 A View to a Death Perspective: Simon

The Beast

Today I woke up from what I think was one of my times. I woke up and tried to ask the Beast what he thinks that I should do but he gave no answer. I went up to the mountain by myself to go see if the Beastie was really up there. From far I did see a figure but instead of getting scared i wanted to see what it really was. So when I got closer, I saw the dead body of an adult he was tied to a parachute and the stings were all tangled up around his body. This is what all of the boys think is the beastie. I knew that there wasn't a beastie that you could hunt down and kill unless we all killed ourselves because the beast is the evil that is in all of us boys. This beast is taking every one ever and turning all of the boys over. The beast inside me does not want me to tell the other boys this. He has a point all of the boys will just laugh at me and think that I am even more batty. They never want to listen to me and I don't even think that they care about me they would have been looking for me by now if they cared about me I asked Piggy to go on the mountain so they probably would have known that I went to the mountain by myself. Well I know that I can not listen to my beast he will turn me evil so I have to hurry and get to the boys so I can tell them what I ave found out. I know that they should listen to me after I show them that the beast is really a dead corpulant. I just hope that everyone can do the same as me and not let their beast take over them because that is what will make us all die. It will make us all turn against each other and we will not be able to think. I wouldn't be surprised if we start killing each other so that we can eat the meat. I know for sure that Ralph will make it home o.k I can feel it in my heart but I do not know about the rest of us . I have a feeling that Jack will die because his beast already has taken over half of his body. Well I have to start heading back for camp so by it is starting to rain and the lightning is making a phosphoresence.

LOFT JournaL #8

2008-09-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 8 Gift for the Darkness Perspective: Jack

Victory is Finally Mine

Today I got fed up with Ralph being the leader and not even doing the job right. He is a coward and doesn't know the least bit about being a leader. Yesterday, I was the first to go up the mountain and he was scared but no know one acknowledged that. I could feel it in my blood that he was terrified but he would not show it in front of me or any of the other boys. So today there was a change, I called the meeting and I blew on the conch. Today I was going to be herd by the rest of the boys and they were going to see how much of a bad leader that Ralph is. So when I called the meeting, I told all of the boys how I had gone up the mountain before Ralph and how much of a coward he was when we were about to go up the mountain and kill the beastie. I also realized how tired I was of being bossed around by boy that didn't even know what he was talking about, so I asked the boys who voted that Ralph should no longer be leader. No one raised their hands, I don't know if they were just all shocked or what but I did know that I was very mad. I wasn't going to stay with these boys any longer.

I was going to go off on my own and I made sure to tell every one that they were welcome to join me and hunt when I say hunt and I would be the leader. Man you should have seen the look on Ralph's face he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He thought that he was the prefect around this island but that clearly was not true. Sure enough all of the hunters and most of the older kids followed me and I made it a taboo to dis- obey me. I might even have them go back to standing in their demure two rows. As you could probably assume, I wanted to have a big feast in honor of me being one of the chiefs. So the first thing we did was go out hunting for a pig. We painted our faces so that we almost looked demoniac. Once I finally found pig droppings, they led me to a sow. We all cornered and caught the sow this was the most fun catching that I ever had. I got on top of the pig and stabbed and stabbed her until she was finally dead and all the boys began stabbing her it was like I was a baby in the candy store. Then one of the boys stuck his rifle right up her butt. Then I dug into the sow and paunched her leaving all the guts on the rocks. I decided it would be best to leave some for the beast since he of course likes meat. I chopped off the sows head and left that for the beast.

We had no way to cook the pig so the other boys and I went and raid Ralph's camp for fire wood. This was also a good chance for me to rub in that I had caught a pig. I invited the other boys to the feast of course but I knew they were too demure to accept the invitation. I am having so much fun as leader I give the orders and don't take them. I think that eventually every one will come to my side and see how good of a leader that I am. For now, I will get some rest so that tomorrow I will have the energy to catch another pig.

LOFT Journal # 7

2008-09-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

Chapter:7 Perspective: Ralph

Scary!

Today has been a long day we have been searching the island for the beastie. We have had no luck in even finding a clue to where he is at. Now it is very dark and I am scared we are about to head up the mountain to see if it is up there. I think that this whole idea is just windy. The only reason why I am doing this is because I can't let people know that I am scared I am the leader and I am supposed to be the braves out of every one. I think that Jack has an idea that I'm scared but he just has no way to prove it to any one. That is why he keeps challenging me to do things because he wants me to crack. He thinks that he is being sage but he is not. I really don't know what I'm afraid of but I guess it is the fact that we don't know at all what is out there or what the beastie is like. If it some how gets us then what is piggy and all the other kids going to do? I hope that Simon is right when he said that he knows that I am going to make it back o.k. I'm not sure if he meant home or to the camp but I would be happy wit h either one right now.

I think that Jack is a bad example for everyone how ever we need him in order to get food and keep the fire going I think that even though no one likes him he is also a big help for our being on this island. He just has a bravado personality that I don't like.I just can't believe that he tried to turn all of the kids against listening to me that made me very mad. I think and know that he is just mad because he wants to be leader very bad. I think that maybe we should have thought this trip out before we just went. We would have known that we would have had to stay somewhere else over night and Piggy would know so that we wouldn't have had to send Simon by himself. I kind of feel bad for Simon because I know that I wouldn't have wanted to go through the woods in the dark by myself. I just hope with all my heart that he makes it o.k to Piggy.

I just wish that I was back on the moors with my mom and dad where everything was just so care free. Where I didn't have to worry about a thing in the world. Where nothing was ever dun and I wasn't always filled with brine that itched my skin. For now I will go to sleep and think more about all of this in the morning. That's if I can go to sleep right here below where the beastie may be.

Lord of the Flies Journal #6

2008-09-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 6 Beast in the Air Perspective: Piggy

Thinking

I am only a little scared, I think that there is a chance that Sam and Eric aren't telling the truth. I don't know why they would make up something as horrible as that but it could be because they wanted to make since of this mystery of the beastie for every one. They said that they saw it on top of the mountain but it could have very well been a shadow of a tree that had big branches flailing through the wind that looked kind of scary. No matter if there is a beat or not I think that their is no reason for every one to go ludicrous and start acting like animals. Why do you think that when adults are in a crisis, they tell everyone to stay calm? That is because every one can think better and more clear if they do not panic. I also don't understand why we couldn't just keep this between the older kids for right now until we know most of the truth there was no since in them telling the little kids and getting them all scared.

I don't know who the heck Jack thinks he is. He says that he will go hunt down the beastie but clearly if there is a beastie it does not come out in the day time and there is no way for them to see at night. What makes him think that him and all of the other boys are even strong enough to fight the beastie let alone kill it. Jack is only doing this mutinously to get back at all the people that were mad at him. I think that we should just forget about all this. The beastie has left us alone all of this time why would he mess with us now? I just hope that if the boys go searching for this monster they will make it back o.k. Even Jack I may dis like him a lot and get waxy at the thought of his name, but I could never wish death upon anyone.

All of this is like the whole fire thing no one took time to think things out and look at what happened it almost burnt down the whole island. Same thing for this situation no one took time to make a plan and think things out they just jumped to it and I think that that will cause chaos among all of us and we will be embroiled into something beyond our power. I want to get home because I am tired of guano landing on me and not being able to properly wash it off.

Lord of the Flies Journal #5

2008-09-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

Chapter:5 Perspective:Simon

Home

The thing that I want to do the most is go home. I am starting to get as scared as the little ones. I really think that there is a beastie I can even feel it every step I take in the forest. I know that the little ones can't be making this up and they wouldn't pretend that they are screaming in their sleep. I just wish that at least one of the adults would have made it from the plane crash that way they would know everything to do right now. My mom would be able to sing me to sleep when I was thinking about the beasties. I think that if everyone stuck together and listened to what one another has to say. Everyone thinks about the bad things and no one ever takes time to think about how fortunate we are that we are still alive because we could have died in that plane crash with all of the adults but we are still alive. Tonight we heard aloud whale and we thought that it may have been Percival but we could not see what was going on because it was pitch black. This event was like an effigy of the beastie. As for Jack, I can't stand his bloody bad attitude. If anything he will be the one to cause chaos between all of the boys. He has no decorum. Even today he tempestuously went against what Ralph the person we all elected our leader had to say. He is the person that will convince the people that they don't have to follow the rules when it is the only thing that we have that is keeping us sane. I think that he should just go away and make his own hut, live by his own rules, and leave us all alone. The only thing that he is good for is getting meat and I don't think that we really need meat very much. I still am kind of mad him and don't get me wrong i am a loving person but I'm still mad at him for letting that fire go out. It was our chance to all go home to our families and he ruined it all. I also don't understand how he could be so mean to people. Like Piggy how could he get so mad at Piggy for telling the truth. How could he lay his hands on him. I don't know what we would do if Jack was the leader. I think I would just want to die and it would be ludicrous. I know that I am tired of being on this island and I just want to go home. I hope that we could all pull through and work together so that we make the time that we are here the best that we can. As for now, I am overwhelmed with lamintation. I am just glad that Ralph is our leader and I can always trust that he has all of us not just him in mind.

Lord of the Flies Journal #4

2008-09-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 4 Painted Faces and Long Hair

Perspective: Jack

This Sucks

How the heck was I supposed to know that after all these days that I kept the fire going, the one day I let it die out for a couple hours, a boat would come by. Who even says that the boat would see the fire? I think that if one boat cam by another one has to eventually. Who even knows who or what were even on those boats it could have been a bunch of cereal killers.

I feel like all of the hard work I put into hunting just to gain a little respect from people all went to waist because I let that stupid fire let out. I don't know what happened at that moment I just wasn't thinking and it was a mistake that I made. Heck we all make mistakes like this and it just makes me feel kind of bad that all of these people are mad at me. It seemed like when people are mad, every one's skin turns from kind of tan to having swarthiness in it. For a second, I was mad at myself for letting everyone down when I was supposed to pick them up. I understand that everyone was mad at me but they still ate the meat not once did they thank me for the work I put into getting that. Well a few people thanked me malevolently but the thank you was not truly sincere. I know that it wasn't all me it was also the hunters but everyone pinned it on me because I was the leader and didn't do my job. Now my thoughts of me being the perfect leader of all of the boys has gone down the drain. I used to think that I would have all the boys way more disciplined then Ralph when in reality we wouldn't have anything done and I would probably just have everyone hunting all day.

I feel so bad for what I did to Piggy. But of course no one could know that. He was only telling the truth and he was mad like everyone else. I showed to every one how much of a punk that I was I picked the weakest most quiet boy to pick on. If I really had guts I would have picked on Ralph. I had to pick the one that of course would not do anything back to me. I can't stand any of these boys so why did I pick Piggy? I wish that I could put on some balm that would erase all the wrong things that I have done. I feel so impalpable like every one thinks of me as belligerent and not seeing who I really am. They say that no man is an island but I sure do feel like one.

Lord of the Flies Journal #3

2008-09-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Chapter# 3 Huts on the Beach Perspective: Ralph

A lot of Stress!

I have to say that being the leader of this Island has been stress full. I have to take in every one's ideas a decide what is best for all of us. It has also been a big task to keep the little ones in line. At some times I think that it is fun for us to be on our own and I get excited at the thought of us being independent and not having to listen to what our parents have to say. I think that once we have most things figured out and get settled in, this could be a fun place to live.

Today me Ralph and Simon went to go hunting for meat and more pigs like the one we had saw the day before. Simon and I ended up getting in a little disagreement with Jack. He wanted to keep looking for meat when we clearly couldn't find any more pigs and Simon and I wanted to go build shelters. I know that Jack could stop thinking about himself all the time and he should do what is right for all of us. Meat is not our main priority we could live off fruit. I don't know about anyone else but I do know that I was tired of sleeping outside and I also know that if there is any rain we need the shelters. Also I have been working for weeks on building these shelters and I am mad that Simon is the only one that is helping me. I think that if people want to have some where to sleep then they should help build it.All they want to do is have fun and swim and hunt. Simon later went some where and I am not clear as to where he went but I know that he wasn't back until almost dark.

I think that everyone is working together pretty well. We should be rescued pretty soon and I think that we will survive and that is what we mostly need to do.

Lord of the Flies Journal# 2

2008-09-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

Chapter: 2 Fire on the Mountain

Perspective: Piggy

Feeling Sad

This is the second day on the island and I am feeling no different than I did at my old school. I feel sad that no one wants to listen to what the heck I have to say when it makes a lot of since. Now the whole forest is about to burn up and a little boy is missing. Well I will back up a little bit this is what all happened before now. It all started when our leader called a meeting. He made up the rule that we can't all talk at once so only the person holding the conch could talk and can't be interrupted by anyone but him. After a while people started talking about going home and I knew that no one knew where we were people thought that there family member would come get us but I just knew that was not true. For all they know, we made it safe to the boarding school. So Ralph, the leader, suggested that we needed to make a fire close to the mountain so the smoke could rise an a plane flying by could see it.

Once those boys heard the word fire, they capered away in excitement. They were all acting like little kids and didn't even take time to think things out but of course no one listened to me. I stayed behind as the other boys ran away to make a fire. I thought about what we should be thinking and what could happen if the fire catches to one of the trees. Oh those thoughts lead me to start walking to where all the other boys were.

To my surprise, they hadn't made the fire yet and Ralph asked me if I had any matches well of course I didn't. Then one of the boys yelled out," his specks". I didn't want them to use my glasses to make a fire when I didn't even think that that was a good idea. I began to back up but the boys surrounded me with mean looks on their faces and Ralph pinched my specks off my face. They let the sun shine off them and it made a spark into the fire. I felt proud of myself for once that I helped out and I was the main reason for something. I wanted to tell about what I was thinking when they left, and I held the conch but the officious boys didn't do anything but ignore me. Finally one boy at least herd what I was saying but all he did was tell me to shut up. All of them made me feel like i was nothing. When Ralph snaps his fingers they all shut up but when I tell them I have something very important to say they don't even give me the time of day. I began asking them what happened to the rule that only the person holding the conch could talk that didn't work either. It was only when I lost my temper were they induced to listen to me. I told them how they were acting childish that moment I felt superior but it wasn't for long. The fire got out of control and was now stretching for miles.

I got very scared and my asthma started to kick in because of the smoke. I noticed that the little boy with the birth mark was missing and no one could find him. The pore boy was probably martyred in the fire. I again felt a since of sadness rushing through my body. Oh do I hope we find the little boy.

Lord of the Flies

2008-09-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Journal #1 Chapter# 1 Perspective: Jack

Jealous!!!

I am glad that I have this journal because it is one of the only things that survived the

plane crash. I was on my way to boarding school and BOOM! The plane crashed. I had found

some of the other boys that were on the plane and we were looking around until we heard this

loud sound of some type of horn. I instantly got excited because i thought it was someone

rescuing us. I followed the loud noise until I reached I boy blowing a conch shell. I asked him if

there was anyone there to rescue us and he said no and that he just wanted to gather all the boys

that were stranded on this place. My heart that was once filled with excitement turned into

a deep disappointed hole. We sat down to have a meeting.

The first thing we had to discuss was who the main leader of all of the boys would be. I

am clearly the perfect match for the job I would have every one in line and in order and

everyone would have discipline. The boys who I had controlled automatically voted for me as

leader but all of the other boys voted for the boy that was blowing the conch. I don't know why

they wanted that stupid boy to be the boss he doesn't even know half of the things he's talking

about. He is so immature doing that stupid head stand thing all of the darn time. All I know is

that I better become his helper because if not then all of these boys will be way out of control.

Once we finished with the meeting, four of us went out looking around to see if there were

any more people and if this was an island or not. We climbed up a mountain and discovered that

we were on a island and there weren't any people that we could see around. Oh yeah I forgot to

mention about today when we had the perfect chance to catch a pig to eat for dinner but no none

of these punk boys wanted catch it and kill it. To tell you the truth I was to scared to kill that

poor pig I had never killed a living animal before and the thought of me being a murderer just

made me freeze long enough for the pig to run away. Of course I would not tell the other boys

that though I am the toughest one and they can't know I have a soft side to me. I think that the

boys already knew. Well I have to go I can't let the other boys see that I write in a journal.

Final Romek Post

2008-06-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

1. Which part of the book did you find MOST shocking or disturbing , out of the many horrifying events? Why? (5 pts) I found the part where the Nazis come in and kill all of David's family most disturbing and shocking because I really had a mental picture of all of his family getting shot and killed. I also felt that after how David stayed in the room with all of the dead bodies and how he threw up because of the smell. I think think that if I were in his shoes I would never be able to stay in that apartment complex and watch my family members just lay there with no life in them at all. 2. Which job does David get in Krawinkel Camp that helps him survive and avoid some hardships? Describe his experiences. (5 pts) David got the job of feeding the dogs which he thought was a bad job at first. Then he realized that the dogs food was good and there was enough for him and the dogs to eat.This job made it so that there was enough food for him to eat and he could also sneak some to his friends. At first, he was afraid of the dogs so he used a broom to give the dogs their food then after a while he got used to the dogs. 3. Describe the conditions at the camp Bergen-Belsen near the end of the war. What happens to David while he is there for the last few weeks of the war? (5 pts) I think that at this point, the Nazis knew that the war was about to be over so they wanted to kill as many Jewish people as they could. So there were a lot of dead bodies and David had to drag them to the ovens so that they could be burned. After that everyone was starved and they soon began to eat the flesh of the dead bodies although David refused to do that no matter how much he starved. A lot of people were sick with diseases so they were also dieing from that. During this time, David had typhus and was getting very week. 4. Describe a moment of triumph near the end of the book for David. In other words, discuss a moment he feels pride in his ability to survive and/or happiness that it's over. (5 pts) I felt like all of David's pain and suffering were finally over so I felt like I wanted to cry with joy. If I didn't know what happened in the book I would have never thought that he would make it out alive in most of his situations and to know that he got through all of it just made me so happy and it made my day all the much better. I think that it was one of those moments that words couldn't even express my happiness. 5. Write a persuasive paragraph using the following thesis statement as your first sentence. Use your own opinions, evidence from David Faber's speech, and/or the book itself, to prove the thesis statement is true. (10 pts) David Faber's book, Because of Romek, should be required reading in all middle schools, high schools, and universities because all students need to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. Kids in our generation tend to get lazy and unappreciative of what they have and this book would really make them see how they are lucky that they don't have to go through and witness all the horrible things that David Faber did. From my own experiences, it made me feel bad to even cry because I felt very sick when David was much more sick then I was and on top of that had to go and work hard labor. This book tells kids the truth about the Holocaust so that they know what it is and don't go off of horrible rumors that are told by peers or even through the media. There are people even saying that the Holocaust never happened and it is important for people and kids to know that it did happened and all of the torture and things people went through during it and that if we don't improve upon how things are in America it could happen again.

Renaissance Ball Project Reflection

2008-06-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Name: Bailey Galloway Project Reflection: Post on your Blog Project Title: Renaissance Ball Project Class: B Dates: *You may type directly in this document and copy and paste into blog, or simply address each of the following in a post. It should be approx. 2 pages worth of writing. PURPOSE: In this section, explain what you were supposed to learn and what you were supposed to do. Sentence Starters The purpose of this project was to learn about… In order to learn about _________________, we had to create/perform/ write/etc… In order to learn about the Renaissance, we had to first take notes on PowerPoint slides that my teacher showed to the class which included information on The Black Death, Trade and Commerce Change in Town Life, The growth of Italian Cit- States, and the Spirit of the Renaissance. Then we did an activity that taught the class how the population of cities in Europe got larger and also we got to see a little bit of how the map of Europe was different in the Renaissance then in times now. So we kind of got to compare and contrast the map of Europe from the Renaissance times to now. Next we did a tour threw Florence and what that was is we had different stations and each station we would explore the art, architectural features, and also the writing of famous people that lived in Florence during the Renaissance. WHAT I LEARNED In this section, tell what information or skills you learned or improved. Sentence Starters I learned about… I explored the concepts/topics of … In this project, I learned how to…. (skills) I was Masaccio and what I learned was that he was one of the first artists to really mater perspective. That means that he would make his pictures 3d and really pop off of the page. See in Medieval times the pictures were mainly for religion and weren’t really pleasurable to the viewer’s eye. What Masaccio did was he took the ideas that the Donatello and Brunelleschi had and mixed it with his own to make this whole new style of art. He learned how to use lighting, mathematical laws of perspective, and vanishing points for his art and with the right combination of all of these things it would create a 3d picture. REFLECTION In this section, reflect on your experience. Did you like the project? Why or why not? How did you do? What would you do differently next time? Sentence Starters I enjoyed this project because… I feel like I could have done better on this project because… Next time, I would… I liked this project because I felt that it wasn’t very stressful and a lot of it was part of how you managed your time in class. I also like being able to not be your self for about and hour or two and actually teach people about your character. Next time I would have picked a different person that I was actually interested in learning about instead of just putting that I really care. I also would have put more time into getting the costume because I got minus an easy two points that I could have got. The last thing is that I would have took more time on that map thing because I got a very bad grade on it when if I would have taken my time I would have had all the points on that. ARTIFACTS You should have at least one artifact from each project on your DP. What document, picture, or link will you have for this project? I could put a link to my biography.

BOR OP#3

2008-05-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

1. My reaction to hearing David speak was very emotional. All I could think of was myself and my family and I thought about what I would do i f I were in his shoes. I also felt that from hearing a true Holocaust survivor speak, I now really understand how hate full the Nazis were and how they would torture and hurt people. Before I thought no they wouldn't hurt little baby's and children but that was very far from the truth I found out that they would treat children just as bad as they did adults. 2. I think that Romek was proud of David because he was doing some of what Romek did. David was helping the Jews secretively just like Romek was in the underground. I also feel that this whole thing was kind of a scary experience for David because he was away from home with people that he didn't even know and he had to put his life on the line to help the partisans and also the Jews. 3. I think that the Gestapo didn't kill David because he probably knew that that was the most torture they could have done to him was have to watch his brother die. Also he knew that David would suffer more in the ghetto where he would be starved to death. Or maybe even the Gestapo knew that there were concentration camps and David would probably be a good worker and even suffer more their if he was taken.

BOR OP#2

2008-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

1. David's pet pigeon was some one that he could talk to about anything and it was like a good friend to David. They also kind of saved David and his family's life because one day they didn't show up at the house like they usually would so that gave his mom a hint that something was going to go wrong. So her and her family went and hid and as the mom thought, the soldiers came and killed every one and if the pigeons never would have not came they would also be one of the dead people. 2. The conditions of the vacation camp were bad they would work all day every day until they had blisters and would barely receive any food. They were given a little thin blanket that didn't keep the people warm. Lastly they didn't get any knew cloths after their old ones were dirty and riped from them working and sweating in them. I think that the Nazi's used the term vacation camp because maybe a lot of people died and when they died the Nazi's would call it a "vacation". Also maybe the Nazi's were trying to be sarcastic when they said that. 3. How were you able to remember every last detail of what happened because I know when I telling a story of what happened last week i forget details and have to go back and put them in? How were you able to get through writing this book because it had to be emotional for you?

BOR Op #1

2008-05-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

1. I thought that the concentration camps that the Nazi made the Jewish people work at were far away from their homes and I thought that that was something new that I because now I know that they weren't always far from their houses. I also never knew that the Nazi would force people to dig and not tell them that it was going to be their own grave. I felt that that was very horrifying to learn that because I know that they probably did worse stuff then that. 2. a. I think that the Faber's are a very strong family to be able to go through things like that. I also feel that they were very courageous because I feel that they all thought about each other and they probably all risked their life for their family or family members. b. I think that maybe as he was going through all of this stuff maybe he took time to write down what was happening. Or maybe it was such a life turning point in his life that he couldn't forget something like that. 3. The rescue of his father, shows that David was very smart and he could think fast. Also that he was courageous to go out when he was so young by his self when he knew that the chances were very high that he would die. I would describe David as tough because he was able to cope through all of these things that happened to him and his family at his young age.

Project Reflection

2008-05-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Project Title: Aztec Mural Project

Class: Humanities

*You may type directly in this document and copy and paste into blog, or simply address each of the following in a post. It should be approx. 2 pages worth of writing.

PURPOSE: In this section, explain what you were supposed to learn and what you were supposed to do.

Sentence Starters

The purpose of this project was to learn about…
In order to learn about _________________, we had to create/perform/ write/etc…

The purpose of this project was to learn about the Aztec culture. In order to do this, we had to do this activity where we went around the class and read about different things that had to do with the Aztecs such as their religious practices, the different games that they play, what they did to get married, what their diets were, etc. And right down a summary of each thing. Later on we had to take a test that had to do with these different topics so that we would really know a little bit of back round info to get an idea of what we wanted to paint our mural on. We decided that our mural would be of the Aztec sun stone.

WHAT I LEARNED

In this section, tell what information or skills you learned or improved.

Sentence Starters

I learned about…
I explored the concepts/topics of …
In this project, I learned how to…. (skills)

I learned about how the sun stone was significant to the Aztecs. It was the way that they kept up of what day it was and what days the religious holidays would be held. We knew that the sun stone was like the Aztecs' basic way of life and that it was very important to them so that is why we decided to do that as our mural. I also learned that the sun god was the main god that the Aztecs looked up to and tried to please although they had many other gods. The Aztecs would do almost anything to please the sun god and they even sacrificed humans to “him”. So from knowing that we knew that we wanted to do something that had to do with the important sun god.

REFLECTION

In this section, reflect on your experience. Did you like the project? Why or why not? How did you do? What would you do differently next time?

Sentence Starters

I enjoyed this project because…
I feel like I could have done better on this project because…
Next time, I would…

I enjoyed this project because I really like learning about different cultures and this enabled me to do this. I also feel that I learned a lot of new things like before I didn't know that the Aztecs had anything to do with Mexico. I also new nothing about the Aztecs and I feel that I really learned a lot more about them. I think that the biggest thing that I would do next time is pick to do something with a lot less detail because I feel in the end all of that detail made it very hard for us to finish all of the painting which probably resulted in us getting a loss of points. I would also do something more original that my group and I created our selves so it wouldn't seem like it was someone else's work.

ARTIFACTS

You should have at least one artifact from each project on your DP. What document, picture, or link will you have for this project?

I could probably have a picture of the Sun God.

Final Post Ties That Bind Ties That Break

2008-04-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

1. How do you feel about the conclusion in the book and why? I feel that this book had a good ending but the epilogue really told more about the ending so it helped a lot to read it. I feel that it was good that Ailin ended up reaching for a life of her own outside of China. It shows that you really have to work hard for the life that you want and it most likely will not be easy for you. The only thing that I wished was that they would explain how Ailin and Hanwei would meet again. 2. How do you think that the main character in you're book displays a form of moral courage? Well I think that Ailin displayed moral courage first of all because she left her family to start a knew life living with the Warner's after that she moved to America a very knew place that she would not know or be used to. I think that the main way that she showed moral courage was by standing up for what she believes in and not getting her feet bound because if she would have she would have had a much easier life to come but what she wanted was a much happier life to come and easier doesn't always mean happier. 3. What was your prediction on how Ailin met Hanwei again?

OP# 2 Ties that Bind Ties that Break

2008-04-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

Pages: 3 chapters 1. What is confusing in this book and why? I think that the most confusing part of this book is what the ages are for the chinese people and how they add on a year each new year and also for their birhtday. I think that this is confusing because it is just so different from how the Americans do it and also it is hard to add up. I also think that it is confusing how Ailin's mom, does not make the decisions now sense her dad died and her uncle does I don't know why I guess it is because they had different laws and traditions. 2. Do you think that you would want to read another book by this author? Why or why not? Yes I would like to read the sequal to this book because this first book is very good and keeps my interest so far. I think that since this book has a sequal, they must have not had like a good and content ending so I think that I would definatle read the sequal. I would also try to find other books that doesn't have to do with Ties that Bind Ties that Break that is by the same author. 3. What was your reaction when you found out that the dad died?

OP# 1

2008-04-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ties that Bind Ties that Break 57 Pages 1. What character do you like most in this book and/or what character do you like least? Why? The character that I like the most in the book is Ailin's Father because he is very open mined and really speaks the truth about things. He is willing to break tradition and not make Ailien get her feet bound because he knows that things have to change. He saw all the pain that the two other daughters went through with getting their feet bound and realized that she shouldn't have to go through that if she didn't want to. 2. How did what you read today make you feel? Why? What I read kind of made me mad that girls had less privileges than men and children weren't able to have their opinions about things going on in the world. I feel that it was un-fare that there were a lot of jobs that women couldn't do and tradition was getting in the way of women and girls following their dreams. I was happy that the dad listened to Ailien when she said that she didn't want her feet to be bind because that already showed how things were changing in China because before parents weren't interested in what their kids had to say. 3. If you were in Ailien's position, would you get your feet bound? Why or Why not?

2008-03-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Name: Bailey Galloway Project Reflection: Post on your Blog Project Title: Moral courage Web Site project Class: B Dates: 3-12-08 *You may type directly in this document and copy and paste into blog, or simply address each of the following in a post. It should be approx. 2 pages worth of writing. PURPOSE: In this section, explain what you were supposed to learn and what you were supposed to do. Sentence Starters The purpose of this project was to learn about… In order to learn about _________________, we had to create/perform/ write/etc… In order to learn about AIDS we had to do tones of research and notes (five pages each for five people in our group) whether we used books or the web. The next step was to do an outline of our web site so that we could have a basic sketch of what each of our pages would look like and decide what content our web site pages would contain. Next we worked on the written content that would actually go on the site. Each of us was assigned at the minimum one of our website pages that we would work on putting information on. I was assigned the Cures page and along the way I worked on the Sources page medical information page and the index/ home page. We had to make sure that all of our information covered the whole topic. After we were finished with all of these steps we were basically done with our web-site not including all of the technical things that we worked on. WHAT I LEARNED In this section, tell what information or skills you learned or improved. Sentence Starters I learned about… I explored the concepts/topics of … In this project, I learned how to…. (skills) In this project, I learned how to research my topic thoroughly. I also learned more about Dream weaver and how to use the program. I now know how to upload a file onto another site and what it means to zip a folder. I learned that when you are taking notes on a topic you should do the best that you can so that later on when you need to use your notes you will have complete notes that contain all of the information that you need. I learned how to site sources and how serious plagiarism can be and if you don’t site one little source you could go to. I learned how important it is to use your time wisely in class so you don’t end up having to put a whole lot of your own time into a project. I learned how to have good communication with your group members so that each person knows exactly what to work on and will have an equal amount of work to do I most importantly learned how to develop and compose a professional web site. . I learned that there is no cure for AIDS, but there are treatments that help to prevent the virus getting even worse. There are many different treatments and doctors give about three of them to a patient at once. This is because when HIV multiplies, it does it so that one type of drug might not treat the duplicated virus. I also figured out how the constant demand for HIV treatment in Africa really affects the hospitals in Africa and also the health care workers. REFLECTION In this section, reflect on your experience. Did you like the project? Why or why not? How did you do? What would you do differently next time? Sentence Starters I enjoyed this project because… I feel like I could have done better on this project because… Next time, I would… I dis-liked this project because I feel that it took way to long to get done and it took up a lot of time. I think that I could have done better on the notes for my topic because they wern’t very thorough the first time so I had to go back and do them over so that I would have enough information for the site. I also would have worked way harder in the beginning to get things done because I realized that I waited for the last three weeks to really start buckling down and getting things done. I would have put more media on the web site so that it wouldn’t seem all boring. Overall even though I didn’t really like the project I feel that it really taught me a lot of information and I learned about a very important topic that would actually help me later on in life. ARTIFACTS You should have at least one artifact from each project on your DP. What document, picture, or link will you have for this project? I could link thinkn quest to my DP so that people could look at our web site from there.

The Edification of Sonya Crane OP# 2

2008-03-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

Time Read: 3 hours Pages Read: 210 1. What exciting events just happened in your book? What do you think will happen next? Right now one of the most popular girls of the school, Tandy, is hanging out with Sonya. One night Sonya goes to Tandy's house and finds out that Tandy is a high achiever and lives in a big mansion after Tandy makes everyone believe that her life is so rough and she lives in the ghetto like every other typical black girl. I think that Tandy has showed Sonya that she trust her and I think that Sonya will end up telling Tandy that she really isn't mixed but she is full white. 2. What was one of your favorite lines from the book and why? My favorite line from the book is " Tandy's words, She rolling with us now, authenticates Sonya like a notary's stamp. I liked this quote from the book because I think that it was a good way for the author to explain how Sonya felt instead of saying it directly. I also think that this is a start of an important part of the book when Sonya begins hanging out with the popular crowd and she lies about her identity just so that she can do that. 3. What do you think that the theme/ author's message of the book is? I think that so far the author is showing me all of the guilt that Sonya could have avoided just by telling the truth and not pretending to be something that she is not. I think that author is trying to say that even at the moment it may not seem that way, it will always, in the end, be better and easier if you just tell the truth and not pretend to be something that you are not.

The Edufication of Sonya Crane Post #1

2008-03-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

Date: Mar. 3, 08

Time= 2 hours

Pages Read= 142

In the book Sonya goes to this preppy school and lived in a rich neighborhood until her gets addicted to drugs. After a while, Sonya's mom starts sailing heir stuff and going to desperate measures just to be able to buy drugs. Sonya was very depressed and began going to therapy and her therapist per scribed her pills that Sonya's mom ended up taking so that she can get high. Sonya ended up moving to the "ghetto" where everything would be different and Sonya would be able to begin a new life.

1. How is the character in my book similar to a character in another book?

I think that Sonya is similar to Cathy, the main character of another book that I read. I think that they are similar because they both change who they are just to impress some one. In Sonya's case she lets the popular kids think that she is biracial just so that she can be a part of their crowd and in Cathy's case she changes who she is so that she will impress the most popular girl in school and also so that she will impress this boy that she really likes.

2. What advice would you give to one of the characters in your book and why?

I would tell Sonya that if the popular crowd doesn't like her for who she really is then they don't really like her. They like the person that she is pretending to be. I would tell her that she should just go and make some really friends that like her for who she is. Also that they are bound to find out who she really is and end up dumping her as a friend.

3. How has what you have read so far change your perspective on life?

This book really allows me to really see where Sonya is going wrong and make sure that I don't make those mistakes. Even me having to think about advice that I would give Sonya now I will remember that I should follow my own advice and never try to be some one I'm not just to impress someone.

OP #2

2008-02-12T23:32:00.000-08:00

1. I think that Grandpa was just one of those people that was racist and did not believe in intergration. He did not want anything to change because he thought that it was just perfect the way it is and really didn't look at how it affected other people.

2. I think that Hiram was the under dog in the whole thing and so felt that if he would have hit R.C he would probably end up not winning and getting beat up.

3. I think that R.C was one of the people who helped kill Emmet because he said that he was going to go have a talk with him about whisteling at the white lady and I predict that he meant to do more then just talk.

OP#1

2008-01-18T20:29:00.000-08:00

1. I think that his grandpa was so racist because that was just the way thought they thought that black people were animals or something.

2. I was really surprised that his grandma just all of a suddenly died because it was at the beginning of the story and I didn't expect that. I think that that happened really suddenly.

3. I think that this was a way that the author added suspense to the story and made the reader want to read more.

POST DUE 1-18-08, 8:00 PM

2008-01-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

MT 1955 Questions

2008-01-17T20:12:00.000-08:00

1. Why do you think that his grandpa would be so racist and say that black people were put on earth to do that type of work? 2. What was your reaction when you found out that his Grandma had died? why was that your reaction? 3. Why do you thin that the author descided to put that one little part about Emmet Till and not explain what happened to him in the first chapter?

Independent reading OP#1

2007-12-29T12:23:00.000-08:00

Go Ask Alice Book Review

Go Ask Alice is a real diary about a girl named Alice that has to face the "drug world". Alice goes to a party one night while she was visiting her grandparents when she took her first drugs. She said it was an experience that she will never forget and she continued to use drugs. Along the way Alice makes some bad decisions that will forever effect her life. In the book you follow Alice through all of her twist and turns and ups and downs.

In my opinion, this was one of the best books that I have ever read. This book really had my attention the whole time seeing that it was covering such a heavy topic. I found that I could never put down this book and I feel that it should have one a medal or something. I think that this book could teach kids a lot about the effect of using drugs and where they will get you in life. This book has helped me to under stand how and why people get addicted to drugs.

I would recommend this book to girls from ages 14 and up. I think that this topic is really heavy for little kids to understand and I feel that girls would be a lot more mature about this book then boys would. I also think that some girls would really be able to relate to Alice's story and would also learn from it.

OP #5

2007-12-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

1. Well I think that the ending was very unsatisfying because she didn't explain what happened to her dad and also she didn't say how things were when Hideyo came back. I was hoping that she was going to explain more things like how Hideyo reacted when he was told that his mother had died and like their reaction when they saw their dad. She really told us how Hideyo got to the destination and finally got to Ko and Yoko. She also said what had happened to Corporal Matsumara and if they did or did not finish school.

I think that Yoko chose to end the book like this because they weren't really worried about their dad just Hideyo and she didn't really talk a lot about her dad throughout the book so the readers were probably more interested in what happened to Hideyo.

2. I think they do this because even though they've been through so much, they want to take out some time to remember their mom and their family and take part of the celebration so that they can remember their past and have a little bit of fun like they used to. I think that my family would still take part in Christmas it might not be the same, but it would be our time to share our belongings and appreciate that we are even alive.

3. In the novel, I definitely respect Ko the most. I think that she was strong for everyone and she really held things together for Yoko. I also think that every day she made sure that they had food and cloths and all of the necessities. I think that Ko could have easily only thought about herself and stayed depressed and not do anything but she decided to move on with her life and focus on providing for Yoko.

I don't think that I would be able to do that if I were in Ko's position especially after my mom had died. Even if i did do it I think I would have had a way worse attitude then Ko and would have always been mean to Yoko. I think that I would have just giving up hope and think that everything was going to go wrong.

4. I learned that in Japan any man can be your guardian even if it is your little brother I found that very interesting because I was really surprised that you could be a guardian even if you're a baby as long as you're male. I also learned about how many people got killed during the war even Korean people were getting killed. I learned how hard and intense it was to travel all the way from Korea to Japan. I also learned that many people would get separated from their families, and that many girls got raped by soldiers.

I wonder how long the war actually went on and I would want to know more about why all of these other countries joined in on the war. I also wonder exactly how long it took Ko and Yoko to get to Japan.

5. I think that you shouldn't take for granted what you have no matter how bad things get because everyone is always better off then someone else in the world. I think that you should always tell your family how much you love them because you are not guaranteed to see them the next day. I also feel that you should never give up hope even if you are doing bad because if you keep on going something will eventually work out for you.

Question for my reading group

2007-12-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

IS IT LUIS E. OR LUIS L. THAT IS IN OUR READING GROUP BECAUSE I THINK THAT I HAVE LUIS E. IN OUR READING GROUP????????????

OP #3

2007-12-10T21:24:00.000-08:00

1. a. I think that they feel that they should get to Japan because they will probably be a little more protected since it is Japan and they are Japanese. I also feel that there were a lot of girls that were getting rapped and they were in a lot of danger and the Korean communist army can ,and will, at any time bomb the place and kill all of the people in it because they didn't care if Japanese people and people that against the Korean army died. 1. b. Yes I think that it was smart for them to leave Hideyo behind because he was probably going to figure out where they are and he will go their also. I think that if I were in their situation, I probably would try to leave especially if I was scared that I or my sister was going to get raped. 2. When they're on the boat to Japan and were leaving Korea, why do you think that after being able to hold their tears throughout the long painful journey Ko and the mom began to cry? Why do you think after crying so much throughout the journey Yoko didn't cry. I think think that it was a happy cry because they are about to go to China and leave all of their troubles behind. I also think that a little bit of Ko's crying was toward her leaving were she lived for a long time and the thought of them might having to start a new life. I feel that Yoko didn't cry because she really isn't very emotional because she is a little younger and probably understand just how good it is that they are going to leave Korea.

OP #2

2007-12-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

1. I think that Hideo is very responsible because he is faced with a lot of responsibilities. I also think that Hideo plays a sort of fatherly role in the family since there dad is not around very much. I also think that he earned his name of honorable brother because he really helps the Kawashima and is ready to do what he has to to provide for them. I think that Hideo shows courage by finishing the rest of the trip without his friends although I'm pretty sure that he will meet a friend on his way that is going to the same place. 2. If I was in the same situation as the Kawashima family I would get: my heaviest jacket to keep me warm. One extra pair of close so that I could later on change if the close I had on were dirt. My cell phone so that I could call anyone that I needed to. One of my little blankets that wouldn't be hard to carey so that where ever I sleep I would be able to cover up. I would probably get an extra pair of under ware just in case. I would grab a few caprisons so that I would have something to drink. Fill up a water bottle also for something to drink. Pack some fruit to eat. Some chips for a snack. A bar of soap in case I had to wash up some where without soap. Toothbrush so my teeth won't start rotting or anything. Pop tart to eat. Flash light in case were I was going would be dark. Then I would probably help to get my brothers packed up. 3. I found it most shocking when they were on the train and the Korean Communist Army came on and they were looking for the Kawashimas. I think that it was stomach turning when Ko had to hold the placenta because I saw a placenta before and it was gross. I was really mad when the Kawashimas had to get off of the train because I was hopping that they would be able to ride all the way to their destination. I was also surprised that they weren't as mad as I was about having to get off of the train because they new that there was still a long journey ahead.

OP#1

2007-11-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

1. I think that Yoko is very young and doesn't understand what's going on. I think this because of the language that she uses. I also think that she doesn't know how she's battling between life and death because if she understood she wouldn't question her mom about cutting her hair or putting on the army uniform. I feel that Yoko is very giving because on the train she gave so much to that mother even though she really could have used all of those supplies. 2. I think that Ko really loves her sister and is giving her all of these orders to save her life and help out her mom and Yoko thinks that she is just being bossy. I think that Yoko just gets mad at her sister and just lets things slip out that she doesn't really mean because in the book it says that later Yoko didn't know why she said that about her sister. I think that Ko would do anything and risk her own life for her sister because in the story it said that Ko went back onto the train tracks when she was way ahead of Yoko and her mom to go let Yoko ride on her back. I just think that in Yoko's culture, they call anyone in authority or older honorable. 3. Well like I said I think that they are very giving and caring because they shared a lot of their valuable supplies that they could have used because in the story on they were lending a lot of their stuff to people that needed them. I also feel that the author included this because I think that one of those people that they helped will help them later on in the story. I also think that they are very smart because I would of never thought of putting on the soldiers uniforms so that I wouldn't have to hide at night or worry about being stopped by the soldiers.

Name:Bailey Galloway Date:11-16-07 Pages 3-84 Time: 4 hours and 20 minutes

2007-11-16T19:40:00.000-08:00

My book is about this girl named Melinda Sordino and she goes to a party one night and something causes her to call the cops. All of Melinda's closest "friends" won't speak to her now they don't know the true reason why she called the cops. At this point in the book you can tell that Melinda is very depressed and is going through a hard time trying to forget whatever happened to her at the party. It also seems like her parents are busy with work and she doesn't have that support that she desperately needs. So far this book is great at giving little by little hints of things that happened at the party. Based on what I've read in the book, I think that she got drunk and didn't know what she was doing when she called the police or she got raped or something. I feel like I would die if I were in Melinda's situation.I also feel that Melinda will start to become secure in herself and become friends with Heather and part of that would be telling someone her secret and letting it out.

Last WAVE Post

2007-10-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

1. I think that this quote means that you should never let anyone tell you to be like everyone else and you have the right to show originality and Independence and don't be a follower be a leader. I feel that in the WAVE everyone does the same thing and allows one person give them orders and they follow them without any problems. This shows that it is that easier to be a follower and to be a part of the crowd and let someone tell you how you should do everything then resisting it and saying that your not going to allow that. I think that I could apply this to my life by not when one of my friends were to get mad at someone and decide that I'm not going to be their Friend either. Or by not if the whole school didn't like someone because their different and I wouldn't like them either. I think that almost every day people give into peer pressure whether its something as small as talking about one of your friends behind their back because your other friend doesn't like them, or something as big as doing drugs or stealing. 2. I think that Robert was one of the kids that was an outcasts and felt that he had no point in life at the beginning of the book. What even made it worst is that his older brother was always one of the top of the class and he would always have to live up to his expectations. I think that Robert felt that if he didn't have any friends and he wasn't doing good in school then there wasn't even any point of trying to do better. I think that the WAVE gave Robert confidence in his self and it made him feel like he wasn't expected to do any more then he could and that everyone was equal. I think that this is why he was one of the biggest followers of the WAVE because it was like his escape from the real world. I feel that Robert really gained a life long confidence in his self with or without the WAVE and the WAVE just helped him to see what he could do and that he could really be somebody. I don't think that he realizes that right now because he just sees it as a bad thing but I think that later he realize that he really did gain something out of it other then heartbreak. 3. a. An element of fascism that I see in the WAVE is a dictator having complete power. I don't really see racism but I see emphasising an aggressive nationalism because there is a lot of segregation towards those who are not a part of the WAVE. b. I think that Cuba has elements of fascism because they have one dictator with a lot of power.

AVOIDING MOB MENTALITY:

A Practical By a Middle School Student For Other Middle School Students

1. If you have doubts about something follow your instincts and make sure that you don't get caught up in something.

2. I f one of your friends come up to you and tell you how something is affecting people and you find yourself defending that something and getting mad at your friend for saying that then you know that you are getting too caught up in this thing.

3. If there is one leader of something and they give you orders and tell you when to do things and how to do them than this thing probably isn't good.

4. If people are getting hurt over something then you know that people are taking this thing to seriously and that you shouldn't take it seriously.

FHP Project Reflection

2007-10-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

Name: Bailey Galloway Project Reflection Project Title: Family History Project Class: Humanities Class Dates: October, 17 2007

PURPOSE In this section, explain what you were supposed to learn and what you were supposed to do. Sentence Starters The purpose of this project was to learn about… In order to learn about _________________, we had to create/perform/ write/etc… In order to learn about Vietnam first I had to use all of the resources I can to create 4-5 pages of notes on the war. Next I created a rough draft of a historical narrative that I used my notes to produce. I interviewed my grandfather and asked him multiple questions that would also help me with my narrative. I used the questions and answers to make a interview write up. I also wrote a personal narrative in which was the story of mine and my brothers names. I made sure to sight all of my sources and created a bibliography using easybib.com. Finally after many drafts completed a final draft of both my personal and historical narratives. I gathered up all of my pictures and memorabilia and made captions for the pictures. Lastly I bound all of my book together and created the final product. WHAT I LEARNED In this section, tell what information or skills you learned or improved. Sentence Starters I learned about… I explored the concept of … In this project, I learned how to…. (skills) During this project I really learned a lot about the Vietnam war because at first I didn't even think about the war or know anything about it. Iearned why the war started and how the U.S became involved in the war. I also learned about the easy-bib sight in case I have to create a bibliography in the future. I learned about the different type of questions and what they consist of. I learned how to bind papers using a binding machine. At first I had never did an interview and didn't know how to do one and after this project I feel like I can do an interview any time on anyone. I also learned a lot of things that my grandfather did that I really hadn't asked him or thought of asking him before. I think that the most important thing I learned is how to pace myself bcause in this project we didn't have a lot of due dates so this taught us that you need to make sure that you get everything done. REFLECTION In this section, reflect on your experience. Did you like the project? Why or why not? How did you do? What would you do differently next time? Sentence Starters I enjoyed this project because… I feel like I could have done better on this project because… Next time, I would… I really enjoyed this project because I love the flexibility to do most things at our own pace. I think that this project taught me a lot of good information that I could use later in my life. I also feel that it was kind of fun learning all of this information about my grandfather that I didn't know. It was also fun to be so independent and set your own due dates for most of the required things. Think that next time I would do a scrap book instead of binding my pages because I think that the scrap book looks better and shows more effort and you could show more creativity. I would also put way more pictures in my booklet and get more artifacts and have my grandfather send me some of his medals. ARTIFACTS You should have at least one artifact from each project on your DP. What document, picture, or link will you have for this project? Pictures from student share Letter from Kennedy to Ngo Dinh Diem personal photos Interview historical narrative

WAVE Post #5

2007-10-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

1.???? 2.'' You say it could never happen again, but look how close you came''. I think that this quote really stood out to me the most because I feel that it really is what the WAVE is about and really goes back to what David said that yea that video was disturbing but it's over and it could naver happen again but the truth is that it would have happened if Ben wouldn't have found that way to stop it. I also feel that the people who thought that became a part of the WAVE, and didn't see what was going on. 3. Why do you think that people were so emotional and sad about ending the WAVE? Do you feel that there was anything better that Mr. Ross could have done to execute his plan better?

WAVE POST #4

2007-10-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

1. I think that been feels that all the rules for the WAVE are stupid but he still has to follow them because he doesn't want to get talked about for not being in the wave and he doesn't want to lose his friends like Laurie is. I also think that like the rest of the people that were against the wave he was very scared to have his own thoughts and feelings and thought that he could be bullied for having his own opinion. 2. A quote from the book that I thought was interesting was the one that Amy said, '' Come on, Laurie, the only reason why you're against the wave is because it means you're not the princess anymore''. This quote stood out to me because I thought it was interesting how Laurie got the same response from Amy that she got from David. It made me wonder if David told Amy that he told Laurie that or if it was just a Coincidence that they said almost the same thing. Also this part really made me get the feeling of how this was so much like the Nazis. 3. If you were a part of the WAVE at what point would your line in the sand be? Would you be like Laurie and never feel comfortable with the wave and do something about it? Or would you be like Brad and feel that most of the rules are stupid and go along with it anyway?

WAVE #3

2007-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

1. I think that the Mr. Ross start es to lose control of the experiment when he thinks to his self they could get out of hand. I also think that when Laurie's mom says all of that stuff that gets people really into those type of clubs and they all applied to the people in the wave. 2. A good quote in these chapters is '' In fact, Christy says she's even noticed an improvement in her classes because of it. This was a slight exaggeration, Ben knew''''. I think that this sentence was important because it was cool that the author took a risk and told us information that he didn't have to. I also think that it was a great choice of words. 3. Do you think that Mr. Ross is already taking the ''WAVE'' to far. Why or Why not?

Comment Report

2007-10-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Wade= a full comment Oliva= commented but didn't answer my question Julian=commented but didn't answer my question Karen= NC Christian= NC NC= No Comment

The Wave Response #2

2007-09-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

1. I think that this is already spreading with the boys trying to get this message of '' the wave''. I think that all of the sports teams and after school activities will have students from Mrs. Ross' class and will enforce ''the wave'' until it goes throughout the whole school. 2. The part of the book that stood out to me the most and I thought it was the most important was the part that says, '' It's like, when we all acted together, we were more then just a class. We were a unit''. I chose these two sentences because when Ben said this, at that point, I knew that that was what Mr. Ross (the teacher that started '' the wave'') wanted the students to see. This sentence also lead me to a lot of predictions and made me ask a lot of questions in my head. 3. At what point in chapters 5-7 did you find yourself making the most predictions?

The Wave 1 response

2007-09-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

1. a. The setting of this book took place in about the 1970's and it was at Gordon High school. b. One clue that I got from the author that the setting took place in a earlier time period was that for the school paper they had typewriters to right everything instead of a computer. Also in order to watch a movie the film had to be threaded. 2. The sentence that stood out to me the most is the sentence that said '' Ben thought of telling the students that the smoke rising from the chimneys above the buildings was from burning human flesh''. This sentence stood out to me the most and I thought that it was important because the author gave us some information that he didn't give the students. I also feel that it was very unique how the author worded that so that only we would know that information. 3. Describe what similarities this school has with our school.

''Betty Ann''

2007-09-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

1. The part that stood out to me as the saddest part was the part when the mom said, ''Why don't you like Betty Ann''? She likes you. This part made me sad because the girl didn't even have a answer to the mom's question. It really let me know that these girls just were picking on Betty Ann for no apparent reason at first they kept making these silly little excuses of why they didn't like her but it was really for no reason at all. 2. At first I would probably play along with it afraid that I would lose my friends but as we would keep on harassing Betty Ann I would probably stand up and apologize to her and if my friends are mad I would just be Betty Ann's friend. 3. I think the lesson for the last paragraph is that words really do hurt and that if you hurt someone you won't get a chance to change it.

Seventh Grade Report

2007-09-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

My favorite sentence in Seventh Grade is; Great rosebushes of red bloomed on Victor's cheeks. I liked this sentence because even though it was short it gave a good simile that made me really able to picture victor blushing. I'll be your best student and I'll clean your erasers after school. I connected to this sentence because sometimes I think that in my mind when I know that I'm about to get in trouble by the teacher. Also the same with my mom.

My Favorite Quote

2007-09-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. Dale Carnegi

TEST

2007-09-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

He felt something push into his stomach, and the world began to go gray . This was the sentence that stood out to me the most int the test, because it really made it so that I could really feel the pain going into my stomach. I also felt that this was very descriptive and I could picture the other car going into Robert Proctor's stomach and him drifting away into unconsciousness. In my opinion I don't think that the government should be able to hypnotise people without their permission because it might permanently affect people and make them have to go to therapy . Also if the government would start being able to do that they would start trying to do everything without peoples permission and people wouldn't get to have a say in anything eventually. I think what the guard meant by '' How do any of us know'' is that Robert Proctor still might be under hypnosis and if he was no one would know. That makes me think that I could be under hypnosis and not know it. Before I read this passage I never would of even thought about this so I think that it was very unique how the author had the guard say that instead of him saying just no.

The Nature Movie

2007-09-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

The one thing that actually caught my eye in this movie was the segment about elephants. Elephants go miles and miles to find water same with the other animals. The elephants go to a place they remember had water all the last times they were in this type of situation. The found that there were lions already there and the elephants took over the small water hole. Later in the night the elephants continued to travel and the lions saw them. The lions were desperate and hungry and could see in the night better then elephants so they began to attack one of the elephants and got them down. I liked this part because the images were shot were really good and I thought it was cool to be able to see that.

The House of the Scorpion

2007-09-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

The House of the Scorpion science fiction book about a boy named Mat who is genetically cloned. Mat is kept by a lady who is ordered to hold Mat locked in the house. Finally some kids discover Mat and he breaks out of the house. For the first time in his life Mat is outside and can smell the grass. Upon all of this Mat is unaware that he is a clone.

I feel that anyone would have a great time reading this book. It is great and catches your attention as soon as you read it!!!!!