tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32828060828872010872024-03-20T01:32:19.716-07:00My ELA LifeAnais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-69491101317668665962015-04-10T08:47:00.001-07:002015-04-10T08:47:08.515-07:00ELA Argument Essay: China's Cram Schools<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Upfront
Argument Essay:</u></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>China's
Cram Schools</u></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Every high school student in China studies as much as
possible for the <i>gaokao,</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> a</span><i>
</i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">college-entrance
examination. To us, the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">may
seem like our own SAT, but it is much more difficult and the only
thing that matters for Chinese students to get into college. Nearly
every high school students in China study furiously, cramming for the
</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
for three years. These extremes make it unfair that a single test
determines a student's fate in life.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
requires intense concentration and perseverance from Chinese
students. Many high school students attend “cram schools”, where
they spend most of their time studying frantically for the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao.
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">One
student, who attended Maotanchang High School, practiced
relentlessly, taking multiple practice tests over the course of his
high school years. “ 'If you connected all of the practice tests
I've taken over the past three years,' he said, 'they would wrap all
the way around the world.' ” (pg. 13) This kind of studying is
hardly seen in America, and proves just how important the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is to high school students in China. The same student “... had
spent the previous three years, weekends included, stumbling to his
first class at 6:20 in the morning and returning to his room only
after the end of his first class at 10:50 at night.” (pg. 13) The
pressure of the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
on every student's mind in China, and the only way to pass the test
is to study as much as possible.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">also
gives rural students severe disadvantages. It is much, much harder
for students from small villages or towns to be able to get into
college, let alone a good university. Many villages “...have poor
schools and few well-trained teachers.” (pg. 14) Students from
poor rural areas would not be prepared for what could be on the test.
On the other hand, wealthy city families are in more of a safe zone
and have choices when facing the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
“Wealthy urban families can hire private tutors, pay for test-prep
courses, or bribe their way into the best city schools.” (pg. 14)
This gives them a distinct upper hand, as well as the fact that urban
students have many more allotted college-admission spots than rural
students. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
</span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is not just risky for the students that take it, but for the
teachers, and possibly the local towns of high schools as well.
Maotanchang High School is located in Anhui province, two hours from
the nearest city. “The local government has shut down all forms of
entertainment. This may be the only town in China with no video
arcade, billiards hall, or Internet cafe.” (pg. 15) This is a
result of the determination of Maotanchang High School of eliminating
any distractions for its students. The teachers there are very strict
as well, and “...dole out lessons, and frequently punishments, with
military rigor; their job security and bonuses depend on raising
their students' test scores.” (pg. 15) As stated, the teachers
have a risk of losing their jobs of their students do not do well on
the </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">gaokao</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
This is why the students need s little distractions as possible, not
only for themselves, but for their teachers as well.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Every
year, over 9 million students in China take the <i>gaokao</i>.
Some don't succeed. All the difficulty and stress of cramming for the
test sometimes causes students to commit suicide as well. Therefore,
the reader can see that having the fate of millions of students
riding on one test is unfair.</span></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-65083791987715713472015-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:002015-03-24T17:24:45.101-07:00Reading Response Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and 1984 by George OrwellReading Response Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and 1984 by George Orwell<br />
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0VY3qjUbcH4/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0VY3qjUbcH4/hqdefault.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a> Most
people want to make a change, to have their name in history as a
person who was selfless and did things for the greater good. Some,
however, do so without intention. Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist
of <u>The Hunger Games</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">, by
Suzanne Collins. Katniss resides in a war-ravaged land that was once
known as “North America”, now called Panem. She lives in the
poorest district of all, District 12, where people try to make a
living in the coal mines. On the Reaping Day, Katniss numbers her
days when she volunteers to go to the Capitol as a tribute of the Hunger Games instead of
her little sister, Prim. She becomes increasingly popular as the Games wear
on, through Peeta Mellark's interview, and her actions in the arena.
Katniss survives to the end with her fellow tribute, Peeta, but knows
the Hunger Games aren't over yet, and that darkness looms ahead.
Throughout the Games, Katniss' selflessness shines through her cold
exterior, making an impression on the audience, both the people of
Panem and the reader. This selflessness is what allows Katniss to
survive. Katniss shows us that selflessness is a powerful thing, and
that it is sometimes better for the greater good to sacrifice
yourself, rather that trying to make a change, alive.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
Throughout the duration of the book, Katniss shows us
her selfless attitude again and again. The most notable time she
acted selflessly, if impulsively, was when she volunteered as tribute
for Prim. Katniss' reaction to her sister's name
being called shows her deep, unrivaled love for her. She does
not love anyone as much, not her best friend, Gale, nor Peeta, nor her mother. When
Effie Trinket called Prim's name during the Reaping, Katniss recalled
the wind being knocked from her body when she fell off a tree, and
stated that that was “...how I [felt] now, trying to remember how
to breathe, unable to speak, totally stunned as the name [bounced]
around the inside of my skull.”(pg. 21) Prim's name being called
brought a great shock to Katniss, and the first thing she did was
volunteer to protect her sister, regardless of her own sake, because
she knew that she would never forgive herself if Prim died. Katniss couldn't
bear to live without her. This selflessness is shown again when
Claudius Templesmith, the Games' announcer, says that there was a
rule change in the Games, and that two tributes will be declared
winners if they are from the same district, unlike the norm of only
one victor. “The news sinks in. <span style="line-height: 200%;">Two tributes can win this year. If
they're from the same district. Both can live. Both of us can live.
Before I can stop myself, I call out Peeta's name.” (pg. 244) As
soon as she could, Katniss made it her next priority to find Peeta,
wherever he was. Although this could be the repayment of owing Peeta
a debt when they were both children, Katniss truly does care for him,
and does whatever she can to help him, even depriving herself of
sleep to watch over him when he was ill. This selflessness shows yet
again when she suggests that she and Peeta eat poisonous nightlock
berries instead of fighting each other to the death. “My fingers
fumble with the pouch on my belt, freeing it. Peeta sees it and his
hand clamps on my wrist. 'No, I won't let you.' 'Trust me,' I
whisper. He holds my gaze for a long moment then lets me go. I loosen
the top of the pouch and and pour a few spoonfuls of berries into his
palms. Then I fill my own.” (pg. 344) This can be seen as the
dormant rebel inside of Katniss awakening, but also again as
Katniss' love for Peeta, through the fact that she cannot bear to
kill him and live with that knowledge, nor die, or have her family
and Peeta's suffer from watching them perish from a brutal death. It
seems that Katniss feels her family would understand if she ate the
berries, and chooses that path alongside Peeta. This selflessness
saves her from the pain of killing Peeta, or dying at his hands with
her family's sorrow, as the Gamemakers do not want to have the last
surviving victors die a death as themselves – and not a piece in
the Capitol's game – with rebellion screaming in their actions.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
Again and again, Katniss shows us the strength in
sacrifice and selflessness. In <u>1984</u> – by George Orwell –
however, the protagonist, Winston Smith, doesn't have this quality
and is very self-serving and arrogant. When his first signs of
rebellion peek out, he only crosses the forbidden lines because he
wants to satisfy his own wants, so he promptly makes love with Julia,
trapped in the fantasy in his own head. “Not merely the love of one
person, but the animal instinct, the simple undifferentiated desire:
that was the force that would tear the Party to pieces.” (pg. 126)
This fantasy shows that he believes that by having sex with Julia, he
would make a change in the world that he lives in. this type of
thinking is strictly forbidden by the Party, and terrible
consequences will follow. Indeed, terrible consequences did follow as
Winston and Julia were caught in the act, dragged into the Ministry
of Love, and tortured until their wills shattered. This setting may
perplex some readers, but the Ministry of Love is an antonym for what
it really is, to confuse the people of London, and lure them into a
false sense of security. Thus, the Ministry of Love is really the
Ministry of Torture, the Ministry of <span style="line-height: 200%;">Truth is the Ministry of Lies,
and so on. It is here where Winston's will shatters and he breaks,
figuratively. He is brought face-to-face with his greatest fear, and
inevitably, to save himself, he betrays Julia and the legendary “Brotherhood”. “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia!
I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the
bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!” (pg. 286) This shows his selfishness
and also his arrogance at the thought that he would withstand
whatever the Party members threw at him. Another difference between
Winston and Katniss is that Katniss isn't afraid to die, she is
afraid of what would happen to those close to her heart, like Prim.
Katniss said that “[she] swore [she] would” (pg. 129) try to win,
just for Prim. Winston, on the other hand, was so fearful of dying
that he couldn't even bear to think about the razor blade the
“Brotherhood” might have sent him, so he would die bravely.
Instead, he clung to life, sniveling and begging the Party members
not to hurt him, to “do it to Julia!”.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span><u style="line-height: 200%;">The Hunger Games</u><span style="line-height: 200%;"> and </span><u style="line-height: 200%;">1984</u><span style="line-height: 200%;"> show us
the strength of selflessness through the different actions that the
respective protagonists take. To be able to be willing to let go of
life is a hard thing, and to be afraid for someone rather than
yourself is no small feat. For Katniss to be so willing to lay down
her life for her family and best friend is something not many of us
could have the nerve to do, especially Winston. When faced with a choice of your life or something else you greatly want to stay safe, what would you choose?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1984-cover.jpg#geekosystem" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1984-cover.jpg#geekosystem" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-15731828328187205822015-03-08T16:28:00.006-07:002015-03-08T16:30:22.777-07:00Poems: “Those Winter Sundays” and “My Papa's Waltz”<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Poems:
“Those Winter Sundays” and “My Papa's Waltz”</u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCoV2T2h-_0FoK2wKDpKslK53FR3CO3U51L_hUaHmg6J4B3P20d2snaSskcJS8gt9v65zBffpUmGe3gDZlrxjvBLWxYDeKya-_1XvRCS7A2M6OrFGUd9MYUn1rE066sKCQbkzDPrZNZQ/s1600/untitled3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCoV2T2h-_0FoK2wKDpKslK53FR3CO3U51L_hUaHmg6J4B3P20d2snaSskcJS8gt9v65zBffpUmGe3gDZlrxjvBLWxYDeKya-_1XvRCS7A2M6OrFGUd9MYUn1rE066sKCQbkzDPrZNZQ/s1600/untitled3.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Most children grow up not realizing how much their
parents love them and what their parents do for them. “Those Winter
Sundays”, by Robert Hayden, and “My Papa's Waltz”, by Theodore
Roethke, are both poems about a child and their father. The poems
describe the father's feelings for his child and vice versa. While
these poems are similar in topic, the mood of the poems and theme
contrast greatly.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Those Winter Sundays” is a poem about a child and
his/her father, and how the father would put himself past his wishes
and do things for his family so they would be comfortable. For
example, the first stanza states that “Sundays too my father got up
early/ and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,/ then with
cracked hands that ached/ from labor in the weekday weather made/
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.” The family of this
man took the discreet chores he did for granted, and never truly
appreciated his efforts to make them happy. Later, the child looks
back at his/her memories with regret and states, “What did I know,
what did I know/ of love's austere and lonely offices?” The child
expresses the wish to go back and thank his/her father for everything
he's done through these lines, though possibly cannot for unknown
reasons. This shows parents love their children, yet show this love
in different ways, through different actions and words. The child had
not realized, until he/she was a grown adult, that his/her father's
silent actions were the ways he showed his love.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “My Papa's Waltz” is a poem about a small boy
playing with his presumably tipsy father. The word choice of the poem
shows the child's love for his father, especially the last two lines:
“Then waltzed me off to bed/ Still clinging to your shirt.” The
bond between father and child appears strong, and they have much
affection for one another, also shown in these lines, “We romped
until the pans/ Slid from the kitchen shelf;” When father and son
romp about, they play lively, and playing around in such a matter
shows great love and affection. The poem also suggests that the
father had been working very hard, through the lines “...battered
on one knuckle;” and “With a palm caked hard by dirt.”; and
most likely went to get a drink, due to the lines, “The whiskey on
your breath/ could make a small boy dizzy;”. After this, the most
reasonable answer would be that the father wanted to play with his
son after a hard day's work and a drink. This overall conclusion
shows that, even though the father had a tiring day , he was still
ready and able to happily play with his son. This further symbolizes
his bond with his son.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Although these poems have very different perspectives
on how children interact with their fathers, they both show the
strength of the bond between parent and child, whether the child was
aware of it or not. Love is a bond that cannot be broken, and these
poems show that bond. Children should treasure the moments they have
with their families; they are precious, and they might not get a
second chance to have those moments again, especially as an adult.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://people.bridgewater.edu/~sgallowa/386/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://people.bridgewater.edu/~sgallowa/386/hands.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-68655489724140902292015-02-24T13:05:00.001-08:002015-03-03T15:17:02.616-08:00Reading Response: 1984 by George Orwell<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Reading
Response:</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>1984</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
by George Orwell</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> The
story of </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><u>1984</u></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
by George Orwell, takes place after the second World War, as a vision
of a nightmarish “negative utopia”. Winston Smith, the weak and
inept protagonist, struggles through the orderly pace and routine of
his life, scraping through on the measly portions that the Party
gives out. The Party is the government in this time, which has
complete control over its people. Winston finally has a chance to
defy the Party when he meets a woman named Julia and says to her that
“the more men you've had, the more I love you.” (pg.125) Although
Winston believes that he is making a change by defying the Party's
“Anti-Sex” belief, he does not realize that just being with Julia
is useless and selfish – inevitably, he would be caught by the
Thought Police and sucked back into the illusional safety of the
embrace of the Inner Party and Big Brother. Through this, we see
that, no matter what, the ones with complete power over the life of
the people come out the victors.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> The
main object of power in the text is Big Brother, the supposed leader
of Oceania. It is unknown whether Big Brother is an actual being or
just an image on a poster. He represents the “safety and hope”
for the people of London. This symbol is supported by the fact that
an older brother would protect and look out for his younger
sibling(s). This would give the people a false sense of security, as
they are forced to believe and think that Big Brother would take care
of them. One of the slogans for the Big Brother posters is “BIG
BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (pg. 2). This could possibly mean that Big
Brother is watching to make sure his people are't harmed, but the
more likely situation is that he is watching them for a wrong
movement, a slip of expression, anything that could alert the Thought
Police of a rebellion. This gives Winston a feeling of forced
submission, as he feels trapped inside of himself during the Two
Minutes Hate. If I were Winston, not being able to express my
thoughts or emotions makes me feel frustrated, as if I were being
strangled by a boa constrictor, with no way out, until the pressure
and lack of room to breathe finally killed me. Early in the text,
Winston “...had set his features into the expression of quiet
optimism...”(pg. 5) in front of the telescreen. This goes to show
that even one tiny twitch of the eye or mouth, any expression other
than the one stated above, would result in an arrest or worse.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> Arresting
is another way that the people are kept under the control of the
Party and Big Brother. The low-class commoners, known rudely as
“proles”, and the members of the Outer Party do not know much
about what lies beyond their little world, and no one who had been
arrested was ever the same or appeared again. They would have been
“vaporized”. For example, one of Winston's friends, Syme, was
“...too intelligent. He [saw] too clearly and [spoke] too plainly.
The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear.”(pg
53) Inevitably, Syme did vanish. All records of him were erased.
Everyone forgot about him. Everyone except Winston, who was aware
this would happen. In order for the Party to retain complete control
over its people, it had to crush all threats under its foot like a
bug, no matter how big or small. One way the Party did this was to
capture the suspects and mentally break them. The Party needed proof
of even a minor suspect, first.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> No
matter what, the citizens of Oceania were always being observed,
watched, and listened to. Not even in one's home were they alone or
had privacy. This was due to all the telescreens and microphones set
everywhere, even in the least suspicious place. Winston and Julia
were lured into a trap the same way, suspecting nothing of the
strange little shop where Winston bought his diary. At the end,
Winston and Julia were arrested by the store owner, Mr. Charrington,
who was actually a member of the Thought Police. After Winston was
captured, he was constantly watched by telescreens everywhere, and
tortured to no ed. He found out that the man he thought was his ally,
O'Brien, worked for the Ministry of Love – which actually tortured
the captives inside – and was the ultimate factor in Winston's
demise. Through the telescreens everywhere, O'Brien knew how to wear
Winston down and break his will, even knowing what was in his dreams.
“ 'Do you remember,' said O'Brien, 'the moment of panic that used
to occur in your dreams? There was a wall of blackness in front of
you, and a roaring sound in your ears. There was something terrible
on the other side of the wall. You knew that you knew what it was,
but you dared not drag it into the open. It was the rats on the other
side of the wall.' ” (pg. 284) There was no escape for Winston or
Julia, because the selfish instinct to survive made them betray each
other. This urge to survive was indeed what broke Winston's promise
promise to the “Brotherhood”. Winston wasn't selfless, and
O'Brien knew that. O'Brien used this to his advantage and
manipulated Winston by extracting his weakness.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Through all these forms of threats, the Party exercised
its power over the people, robbing them of their intellectuality and
emotions. People with minds have choices, can make decisions. People
without minds blindly follow whatever takes command and rules them,
becoming solely dependent on that one authority, no matter what they
do. The term “doublethink” in Newspeak is used by the Party to
manipulate the floundering people and make them believe that their
economy is flourishing. The Party maintains their grasp on the people
like so, crushing anything in their path. Thus, if they rule the
mind, they rule the lives, they rule forever more.</span></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-32037086207669156102015-01-28T14:52:00.003-08:002015-01-28T14:54:59.743-08:00Argument Essay: Should Teens Play Contact Sports?<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Argument Essay:</span></u><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Should Teens Play
Contact Sports?</span></u></h2>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets3.tribesports.com/system/tribes/images/000/002/542/original/20131021081612-ex-contact-sports-people-now-running-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh13eldOujiefjz396JTnndxOdi0ZZD5rgRsCGuF9D2P_89hjRKnaCQiEe1VvngSKCZGqiowHIWdaSt15NXC_SSlTKZOUMzt8Hn3Mzkj-nob6GrDPolksBeH67LOgHPefqOGU1doqbXQC0v03-_CiTp3olVh4NPPF6etK7LvyU94DHQPyLzuvuymYRGfNzvu1rpzeSnnDD5xu-6xUnETNVIYSqLvRMSqNr8dykg4lYRTNjdDsCZ3S8rTUfDYsqYOXqj8WDge_fceWw=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets3.tribesports.com/system/tribes/images/000/002/542/original/20131021081612-ex-contact-sports-people-now-running-people.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.imgacademy.com/sites/default/files/1013_Girls_Soccer_Camp_Button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEizrjCDq3w8rgJgl1RNElTTJR11qAQEnzSfmQO4FQKZACLgIPtiPxgH_WROlMAudvt2G47Yk6OqCQgYkXCun3yAO00RKH05YxOZlfzOsqHPOBPcbTr0nXO6vF3ocqlQWanZ4MeDiJxcvYoSeFkChWAEuI5QtNVc91JS_axvc3QyQOiHQeoNabSxkei1LnJFcA=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.imgacademy.com/sites/default/files/1013_Girls_Soccer_Camp_Button.jpg" height="116" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Sports. Football, soccer, ice hockey; these are but a few of the
more dangerous contact sports kids enjoy to play. Alas, every year,
about 3,500,000 young children suffer from sports injuries and
require medical treatment. The surprising thing is that almost half
of the injuries are caused by overuse, and are mainly in kids from
13-15 years old. Those kids who play sports are not only at risk of
being physically injured, but mentally and socially as well. This can
cause stress and grief between adults they trust, friends, and
themselves. Therefore, teens should not play contact sports; for
their sakes, and for others'.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Playing contact sports can seriously damage your body – sometimes
for life. In <span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"For
Children in Sports, a Breaking Point", the author states that,
“the sports surgeon Dr. James R. Andrews said that he now sees four
times as many overuse injuries in youth sports as he did just five
years ago and that more children today are having to undergo surgery
for chronic sports injuries.” More and more kids are overusing
their muscles by constantly playing a certain sport for too long a
period of time. This eventually causes a lot of wear and tear which,
if left unchecked and continued for too long, can cause permanent
damage. Another point that shows this risk in sports is in the
article “How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries” by the
Wall Street Journal, which informs us that “the greatest number of
sports injuries in kids are in teens from 13-15 old.” Teens </span></span>at
that age are still growing and developing – their bodies are more
vulnerable to hits, and they can't sustain as much damage to their
internal organs like adults can. When teenage sports players take
hits like a professional, experienced, adult player, it increases
their chances of having a permanent injury while on the field. As for
being on the field, playing sports can also damage you emotionally
and mentally.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Being a player on the field can be very stressful, which can
sometimes lead to breakdowns and frustration. Negative feelings can
come from everywhere; parents, siblings, coaches, teammates... this
torrent is enough to unravel anyone. As the editor of “Competitive
Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”, Michelle New, states,
“overzealous parents tend to overreact to mistakes, game losses,
and skipped practices, which often causes kids to do the same.” A
child's performance in the game may be important, but it may be
affected by the attitude of the spectators, like coaches and parents.
If you get your child into the habit of beating themselves up over a
minor mistake, they won't be able to focus on the next game in fear
of making an error while on the field. This could also pressurize
them to be absolutely flawless in an adult's eyes when playing, as
shown in “Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”. “Kids
try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach, or other authority
figure and end up feeling like winning is the only way yo gain the
approval of the adults they respect.” This is absolutely true, and
as the pressure builds up, it may go past the limit of the child's
tolerance or capacity. They may experience burnout, depression, or
may just break down or decide to quit playing sports. Stress,
although helpful at times, is a dangerous thing to play with.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Some people may say that stress is a good thing when it comes to
sports. Sports <i>can</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> also
benefit you physically, socially, and mentally. From the article
“Healthy Competition Key in Youth Sports”, by Ramona Shelburne,
“encouraging kids to stoke those competitive flames, Bryant said,
is essential to making sports and physical activity part of their
lives...”. Competitiveness helps kids learn how to be good sports
and treat others well. Kids become healthy, and many are more
satisfied with their lives. Playing sports also releases hormones
that make you more relaxed and happy. But, as in </span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"Competitive
Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool", “stress is a double-edged
sword. On the one hand, it prepares the body to rise to a challenge
with focus, strength, and heightened alertness. On the other hand,
too much of it can exhaust a kid's energy and drive, leading to a
sports burnout.” When that happens, kids will not be able to play
their best on the field. All the pressure overwhelms them until it's
too much to handle.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> Although
occasional stress can be good sometimes, in many ways too much can
bring you down, mentally, physically, and socially. Exercise is
important, but there are many ways of exercising without putting your
body and mind at harm. Contact sports are dangerous, and kids should
cease playing for their safety and good health.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
Bibliography</span></h3>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Brody,
Jane E. "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point." </span></span><span style="color: #262626;"><i>The
New York Times</i></span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
The New York Times, 24 May 2010. Web. 17 Jan. 2015.
<</span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/25brod.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/25brod.html?_r=0</a><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">>.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"Competitive
Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool." </span></span><span style="color: #262626;"><i>KidsHealth</i></span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Ed. Michelle New. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Jan.
2015.
<</span></span><a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sports_competition.html">http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sports_competition.html</a><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">>.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"How
Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries." </span></span><span style="color: #262626;"><i>How
Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries</i></span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
The Wall Street Journal, 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
<</span></span><a href="http://www.wsj.com/video/how-children-and-teens-can-avoid-sports-injuries/D707BD91-FDC1-4885-8422-7E74A9E97BD4.html">http://www.wsj.com/video/how-children-and-teens-can-avoid-sports-injuries/D707BD91-FDC1-4885-8422-7E74A9E97BD4.html</a><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-style: normal;">>.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">|,
Ramona Shelburne. "Kobe, Bill Clinton Talk Youth Sports."
</span><span style="color: #262626;"><i>ESPN</i></span><span style="color: #262626;">.
ESPN Internet Ventures, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
<</span><a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10291171/kobe-bryant-says-healthy-competition-key-youth-sports.html">http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10291171/kobe-bryant-says-healthy-competition-key-youth-sports.html</a><span style="color: #262626;">>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ec12b739d/images/Full-Moon-Manhattan-Brooklyn-Bridge-110124_04-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ec12b739d/images/Full-Moon-Manhattan-Brooklyn-Bridge-110124_04-1.jpg" height="393" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> In most parent-teenager situations, it is frequently
shown that family members often disagree with each other. Teens may
wish to be alone, whereas parents would want to help their child
through stressful times. Things like this happen a lot in
relationships between people. Throughout the short story “Building
Bridges” by Andrea D. Pinkney, it is shown that relationships are
complicated, especially between parent/guardian and child. Bebe is a
17-year-old girl who lives with her grandma. She greatly wishes to
become an engineer, and starts with a Brooklyn Bridge renovation
team. Unfortunately, Bebe's grandmother, Mama Lil, refuses to sign
the contract that would officially give Bebe permission to work on
the Brooklyn Bridge. Bebe tries to fight her way through to Mama Lil,
and it's this determination that finally allows Bebe to reach her
dreams. Through the issues Bebe and Mama Lil have, Pinkney shows us
that teenagers often have a difficult time communicating with their
guardians.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Bebe, the main character of “Building Bridges”,
dreams of one day becoming an engineer – but her grandmother has a
different view on this and their lives get difficult. Bebe often
disagrees with her grandmother on various things, from hairstyles to
jewelry to body shape and fashion. But Bebe says in the kitchen, “I
was Mama Lil's only true family, and she was the only real parent I
had. If I left her, she'd have nobody; and if she passed on, I'd be
alone in this world.” (pg. 19) This shows that, although they both
come at odds often, Bebe and Mama Lil both really need each other.
This could make life even more complicated for them – or anyone –
if they don't admit how much they need each other for support. This
is true for many families as well. Another example of this need for
support is when Mama Lil admits to Bebe the reason for her refusal
for signing the permission slip. “Your dreams are the kind that'll
take you away from here, Bebe – away from your Mama Lil. You got
big hopes, child, but they gonna leave me alone, by myself.” (pg.
29) Mama Lil and many parents might find it hard to let their
children go follow their own dreams, not their's. I feel that people
should be able to let go, and let those close to them follow their
dreams, no matter what, even if they worry for their loved one's
safety.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Some parents fear what would happen when their children
leave them. For example, Bebe explains early on in the story that
“Mama Lil thought it just wasn't right that I'd be working on a
project staffed only with boys and men.” (pg. 20) Mama Lil was
concerned for Bebe's safety, like any parent would be, and she tried
to protect Bebe by not letting her go. It could be risky getting a
new job if you don't know what to expect. But Bebe knew exactly what
she wanted, Mama Lil didn't understand. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">When attempting to dissuade Bebe from the renovation
job, Mama Lil stated that, “whatever you call it, it's a white
man's work. You ain't got no place messing with it. We should stick
to our own kind, Bebe – colored women trying to cross the white
man's line is asking for trouble.” (pg. 21) Mama Lil is right on
some aspects, but sometimes kids need to try new things. People can't
stay in the shadow of what they know forever.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Also, some people are wary and have a hard time letting
go of what they know and learning new things. According to Bebe, when
Mama Lil first disagreed with Bebe becoming an engineer in the story,
“...Mama Lil was afraid of something she didn't know.” (pg 20) It
seems that Mama Lil liked being on top, being prepared, but when
faced with something she didn't understand or know, she felt at a
disadvantage and powerless. Most parents would advise their children
about things based on their own experiences or other people's, like
friends's, who may not fully understand the topic. Some parents might
not take into consideration what the majority of other people say.
One example is when Mama Lil stubbornly goes to ask her friends for
advice. “...she'd taken it upon herself to ask her friends down at
Rimley's Beauty Parlor about engineering. They'd convinced her that I
was headed down the wrong path. 'Ain't no black woman doing no
engine-ing,' she'd said.” (pg. 21) Most of the time it's better to
go to the officials who are experienced in that topic rather than
those who bluff or assume they know. Some people should try to
understand their children's point of view before disagreeing with
them and suggesting something else.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> It's always hard to admit when you are wrong, but it
may be better for you and your relationships with others. Andrea
Pinkney did well in showing how relationships are complicated using
the bond between Bebe and Mama Lil. She describes the relationship
clearly and shows their depth of feeling toward each other. It is
this depth that allows the reader to comprehend the uncertainty and
fear that Mama Lil has for Bebe. I understand how hard it is for Mama
Lil because my parents are going through me growing up as well. As
anyone else might experience, it is hard to be willing to adapt to a
loved one's future. I predict that Mama Lil will have trouble
adjusting to Bebe's new path in life, but she'll do it for Bebe. She
always had.</span></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-65729863982944302902014-10-07T12:35:00.001-07:002014-10-07T12:35:49.085-07:00My Name<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/blue-wallpaper-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/blue-wallpaper-8.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
My name is Anaïs Real. Anaïs means grace and mercy. My name makes
me think of a moonlit lake – quiet and polite. But I am more than
that. On the inside currents swirl and tumble, making the growth
underneath the silent exterior sway with happiness and thoughts. My
name also makes me think of a deep, shimmering blue, the kind that
wraps its cool wetness like a blanket around you. Blue is the color
that is calm, wise, fair, and respectful. Blue is noble and kind.
That is what I want to be.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
My last name, Real, came from my great-great-great-grandfather,
whose last name was “Reale”. When he immigrated from Genoa, Italy
to Uruguay, the “e” in his name was dropped, and became “Real”,
which means royal in Spanish. My last name makes me think of a royal
blade, ancient and delicate, sounding hard but with a soft sheen. My
last name is a bright red. Courage, spirit, strength is what red is.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"> My name is a part of me. I want to be blue and red, to become
harmonious purple. The deep, elegant color of royalty and truth. I
want to be strong, willful, courageous, kind, respectful, wise, and
calm all at once. I appreciate my name and what it means to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Like everybody else, my last name carries a lot of family history.
We might have similar family backgrounds, or there might be another
Anaïs Real, but there is only one Anaïs Real of red and blue.
That's what makes me special.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Purple-wallpaper-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Purple-wallpaper-36.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-32263527253124451652014-09-23T17:36:00.008-07:002015-06-18T17:51:23.234-07:00My Finished Reading List<u>Life As WE Knew It</u> by Susan Beth Pfeffer 6/5/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>House of The Scorpion</u> by Nancy Farmer 5/23/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The One: Book Three of the Selection Series</u> by Kiera Cass 5/13/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>1776</u> by David McCullough 5/11/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Cinder</u> by Marissa Meyer 3/31/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Naturals</u> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 3/20/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Hunger Games</u> by Suzanne Collins 3/8/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>All Our Yesterdays</u> by Cristin Terrill 3/3/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Allegiant</u> by Veronica Roth 2/24/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Rithmatist</u> by Brandon Anderson 2/3/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Insurgent</u> by Veronica Roth 1/23/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Packing For Mars</u> by Mary Roach 1/20/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Sea-Wolf</u> by Jack London 1/6/15<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess</u> by Cassandra Clare 12/17/14<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince</u> by Cassandra Clare 12/10/14<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Mockingjay</u> by Suzanne Collins 12/2/14<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel</u> by Cassandra Clare 11/28/14<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Bomb</u> by Steve Sheinkin 11/25/14<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Trash</u> by Andy Mulligan 11/20/14<br />
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<u>The Agency: A Spy in the House</u> by Y.S. Lee 11/13/14<br />
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<u>Journey to the Centre of the Earth</u> by Jules Verne 11/7/14<br />
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<u>Legend</u> by Marie Lu 11/4/14<br />
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<u>Seraphina</u> by Rachel Hartman 10/29/14<br />
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<u>Jonathan Livingston Seagull</u> by Richard Bach 10/21/14<br />
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<u>The Little Prince</u> by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 10/20/14<br />
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<u>The Old Man and the Sea</u> by Ernest Hemingway 10/16/14<br />
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<u>Code Orange</u> by Caroline B. Cooney 10/15/14<br />
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<u>Locked in Time</u> by Lois Duncan 10/10/14<br />
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<u>The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</u> by Douglass Adams 10/7/14<br />
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<u>The War of the Worlds</u> by H.G. Wells 10/2/14<br />
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<u>The Time Machine</u> by H.G. Wells 9/29/14<br />
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<u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Brontë 9/27/14<br />
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<u>Speak</u> by Laurie Anderson 9/14/14<br />
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<u>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</u> by Mark Twain 9/10/14<br />
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Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282806082887201087.post-86626147098352321702014-09-11T15:33:00.006-07:002014-09-23T17:27:46.922-07:00My Summer Reading Project: War Horse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.8thingstodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Where-was-War-Horse-filmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.8thingstodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Where-was-War-Horse-filmed.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></div>
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My Summer Reading Project: War Horse</h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the summer I read multiple books and watched their movie versions. Some of these books are <u>The Joy Luck Club,</u> <u>The Hunger Games,</u> <u>The Black Cauldron,</u> and <u>An Inconvenient Truth.</u> But the one that impressed and awed me the most was <u>War Horse.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Summary:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> The book <u>War Horse</u> was an inspiring historical fiction story about a workhorse named Joey who is sold to the army during the Civil War. He is separated from his master and friend, Albert, and travels through many dangerous situations and witnesses terrible tragedies, yearning to be with Albert once again. Throughout the book he finds many friends, like Topthorn, and Captain Stewart. He is reunited once again with Albert when the war finally ends. Having lost many masters, companions and friends, yet being a horse, no one will know how Joey ever truly felt- but there is one thing for sure: Joey is a war horse to the heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">My Response:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I felt that the book was very interesting and inspirational, especially it being from Joey's perspective. This, and many books like it, makes me wonder what goes on in the minds of other animals, if they understand and know more than they let on, and why they do certain things when we 'command' them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This book shows that we aren't the greatest beings in the world- there are far more powerful beasts than us. It is because of our advanced minds that we think in this condescending way. Chimpanzees are our ancestors and can communicate to a limited extent with us. But we don't appreciate their intelligence, we still think of them as inferior creatures to us humans. We hate certain animals because we don't understand them. They might think the same way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This book shows us again and again that humans and animals can live in peace and that animals are more than we think. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, Joey never spooked when Captain Nicholls fell in battle; he led on the charge, risking his life and never breaking stride, even when horses and humans fell all around him. Through his eyes we see how exactly terrifying war is, alone in many, never knowing if you'll live to see the light again. We see how he endured many cold months of starvation, bad men and masters, and ground that exploded beneath his hooves. We understand why he struggled through his grief and pain, fighting to survive when others became mere shells of their former selves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> We have much to learn from this book, and much to discover about the beings that live by our side every day.</span></div>
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Anais Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18427758664913079446noreply@blogger.com0