Saturday, November 14, 2009

Not All Advice Is Wrong

I found an article in TIMES by Tiffany Sharples O'Callaghan entitled The Contagion Effect of Bad Decisions". In this passage, she talks about how people should not take cues and advice from others because doing so, "can steer you in the wrong direction". I can see where O'Callaghan is coming from, but then, I have to disagree.

"Taking cues from others can steer you in the wrong direction" is not necessarily true. One, who said they were bad cues? And two, can't people help every once in a while? I think so. It's not healthy for an individual to keep everything bottled up inside and try to figure out everything on his/her own. A person needs to find a friend who they can trust and who has a good reputation to get advice from and more than likely, the friend will be able to help.

Not everybody is a person that follows just because "everyone is doing it". No offense O'Callaghan, but who do you think we are? Hopefully, we are grown up enough to have some good friends.

If a friend sees that another friend needs help then they care enough to help. Maybe the friend that is trying to help just wanted to give advice that happened to them from past experiences. I don't see a problem with that.

However, I can see where O'Callaghan was coming from. Sometimes a person just needs to follow their own heart and do what they think is right. Yes, take advice from good friends but after that stop, take your training wheels off and follow your heart.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Analysis

This analysis is of two sentences out of The Awakening by Kate Chopin. The anaylsis includes, diction, syntax, imagery, attitude and also a tone thesis for the two sentences.





Thursday, October 29, 2009

"Multitasking" Is Our Job- Argument 1

A piece, Texting, Surfing, Studying?, written by Perri Klass M.D. talks about teenagers and if they can really "multitask" or if teenagers are just better at oscillating. Also, she talks about parents wanting to help their kids have good study habits.

"The truth is that you really don't multitask, you just think you do; the brain can't process two high-level cognitive things. What you are actually doing is oscillating between the two" (Dr. Christakis). Some kids "multitask" because it does help them think, and by multitasking, in this situation of course, means texting, instant messaging, etc. Teenagers are so use to having everything around them that it's to the point where it helps them concentrate, apparently. Some students are very good at oscillating. However, I am not. It's hard for me to concentrate unless I am by myself without any distractions. Yes, I can get my homework done when I am texting, but I can see where Klass is coming from when she asks herself if teenagers, and whoever else, are really learning something, or just learning on the surface of the point. Parents of teenagers do try to help them with their study habits, but I think it's just different from their parents' study methods. I believe that it's just all opinions on what helps you and fits an individual's personality on how a person concentrates when they study. Also, it can be the very fact of what a person has become accustomed to in his/her life.

This leads to when Klass says "you have to learn how you work and under what circumstances". However, Klass says that "no one can study effectively while watching, listening, surfing, and messaging". I don't fully agree with this. Yes, if we surf the web it can be a distraction, but listening to music can help some people concentrate, even if it is really loud. Cut teenagers and kids some slack- if they do their work, that is. Teenagers, especially, get tired of doing work 24/7 and would like to communicate with their friends every once in a while. Klass' son said that he would instant message while doing some work, but it was just looking up every once in a while. I agree that is alright to do, just don't go overboard. Klass' son also gave advice to his mom about his younger brother saying "not to worry until there is something to actually worry about". Dr. Cooper said that "if they're doing well, permitting them to have some choice permits them to find their own style".

Nobody really knows, honestly, if teens can "multitask", but that doesn't mean that they can switch back and forth between studying and texting. It's all just a matter of how a person studies and what they can do to be successful with studying and making good grades. Let people choose for themselves. Hopefully, they are grown up and smart enough to do what's right.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sentence 12

His sentence:
But others are of an infiltering spidery type that creep and burrow along the minute crevasses of the brain, slowly but inevitably destroying function, and almost impossible to remove.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses commas and a fan boy to describe what is going on.

My sentence:
But students are of the disrespectful type that talk in the middle of a lesson, softly but destroying trains of thought for others, and in the rudest way possible.

Sentence 11

His sentence:
In blunt fact the operation itself, though prolonged, may not be violently dangerous, and though the technical preparation may be difficult, the actual surgery is of the most primitive type--simple extrication of an alien mass.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses commas and a dash to carry out the sentence and explain what it is talking about.

My sentence:
In the winter itself, though prolonged, may be cold, and though the money on heating will go up, the scenery is of the most beautiful ever--blankets of snow all the time.

Sentence 10

His sentence:
Almost all the great contemporary neurosurgeons--like Putnam himself and Wilder Penfield--are Cushing men, Cushing trained.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses dashes to compare what has been said and what is being said.

My sentence:
Almost all the great athletes--like Shaq himself and Micheal Jordan--are fighting men, fighting trained.

Sentence 9

His sentence:
The brain controls pain in other parts of the body, but there are no sensory nerves in brain tissue itself; you could cut a person's brain apart bit by bit, and there would be no pain.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

This compound-complex sentence uses semi-colons and fan boys that help explain how part of the brain works and/or some of what the brain does.

My sentence:
The mom controls fights in the family, but there is no dad to help with the situations; she could snap her fingers once, and the children would settle down.

Sentence 8

His sentence:
It was a long ride in the cold, sullen, slippery rain.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Even though this sentence is very simple, it is very descriptive and somewhat deep in its listing of what the rain was like. It sets the mood.

My sentence:
It was a scary thought in a dark, cold, eerie room.

Sentence 7

His sentence:
Dr. Johnson, suspecting nothing so grave as this, had sent Johnny into Greenfield that morning--luckily with a nurse--for his metabloism test.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

This sentence uses two appositive phrases. One set apart by commas and the other set apart by dashes.

My sentence:
The mother, hoping that everything was alright, had rushed to the hospital that evening--luckily wtih a friend--for her son.

Sentence 6

His sentence:
I talked to Traeger, I called Deerfield back, I got in touch with Frances who was out in Madison, I reached Putnam, I consulted Traeger once more, and by half-past four I was at 168th Street, waiting in Putnam's office.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

In this sentence, Gunther uses a series of parallel phrases telling what all he did--leading up to where he was.

My sentence:
I went to work, I got food, I got to the school, I organized everything I needed, I talked with my friends, and by twelve o'clock I was ready for the band competition, waiting in the band room.

Sentence 5

His sentence:
He was always obedient--if only because he wanted so desperately to get well.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

The sentence is set apart by a dash--describing why he was obedient.

My sentence:
Bob was always sweet--if only because he wished so badly to have a girlfriend.

Sentence 4

His sentence:
Johnny's generosity--he would give anything away--his affectionateness and amiability, concealed a considerable sturdiness of character.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses an appositive phrase set apart by dashes, giving more incite about Johnny and his character. Then, the sentence continues on describing more about him by listing--showing more of what his character was like.

My sentence:
Karen's love--she would care for anybody--her affection and grace, held a sturdiness of character.

Sentence 3

His sentence:
His intelligence was, above all, detached and reasonable--and what is a mind for, except to reason with?
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

He describes "his intelligence" by using an appositive and descriptive words. Then, he uses a dash to, once again, go into deeper thought, leaving the sentence as a rhetorical question.

My sentence:
Her clothes were, above all, cute and fashionable--and what are clothes for, except to characterize with?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sentence 2

His sentence:
From Frances he got a tremendous lot--his gift for fantasy, the realism and long view of his intelligence, his delicacy of perception, his creative curiosity.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Using a prepostional phrase, Gunther explains the main topic of his sentence. Then, he goes into deeper thought telling why it was a tremendous lot by using a dash that follows parallel phrases.

My sentence:
From restrauants he got amazing service--his food for taste, the greatness and politeness of his waitress, his moment of relaxing, his satisfied body.

Sentence 1

His sentence:
As the prize in one of the quizzes he won, he chose an advanced college text on the atom--something far beyond his powers at the time.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther is using continual prepositional phrases leading up to the main point he is trying to make. Then, he uses a dash to go into deeper meaning and thought about the subject.

My sentence:
As the group of students in one of the classes had done, they chose a challenging topic of history--something more advanced than their brains could understand at that age.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Spot the Fake Smile

Daniel H. Pink's A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future is a very interesting book. In the book, Pink defines six senses: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. For each sense, Pink backs each one up with a chapter and a portfolio. In the portfolio, Pink gives suggestions on how to develop the sense. He also provides books and web sites where you can try and experiment yourself.

After reading the chapter on Empathy, I decided to experiment and learn how to "Spot the Fake Smile." I took a ten-minute, twenty-question test to see if I could determine a fake smile against a real smile.

Before taking the test, I thought it would be simple to detect a fake smile. However, once I started watching the videos, I saw that the test wasn't going to be so easy. While watching some of the videos, I saw that some were obvious but others, not so much. In the chapter Empathy, Pink gives advice by saying that the only way to detect a fake smile, is by looking at the eyes, and I do believe that. Watching the eyes instead of the smile, sometimes, did give me my answer. Here is a video where the eyes gave the answer away:

This video shows that the smile was fake, partially because of the eyes.
Here are more examples of fake and genuine smiles:
When I watched some of the videos that were hard to determine, I started thinking that sometimes I would only be able to tell if someone was faking a smile only if I really knew them. For instance, I can definitely tell when my sister has a fake smile and when she doesn't just because I know her and her personality, as goes for some of my friends. Watching these people on the videos, however, I had no clue what their names were or what their personality was like. So, for me, I think determining what kind of smile a person is giving you has to deal with whether you know them or not.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Island of the Blue Dolphins Book Reveiw- Classic Read

Scott O'Deal's Island of the Blue Dolphins was a great read. A girl named Karana goes through a lot of hard times as she loses things in her life. She goes through a lot and ends up on the island by herself. Surviving on her own, she makes weapons, gathers food, and builds a house. She also gains and loses friends on the island. After her long stay on the Island of the Blue Dolphins, a ship comes and she has to decide whether she wants to leave or not.

The tone or attitude of this book is very frank and matter of fact. The narrator's voice is very flowing and expressive.

I would definitely recommend this book. Island of the Blue Dolphins is a book on survival and determination. The book inspired me and I know it will inspire others.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Sophomore Year 08-09

As this year comes to a close, I have mixed feelings. I am happy that summer is close, but I have really enjoyed my sophomore year.

Not only have I learned more in school, but I have also learned a lot in personal situations. I have been in situations that I do and do not like, but what is most important is that I have learned from every single situation. I have laughed, smiled, screamed, and cried. Not all of those are pleasant but I will never forget those moments.

God has taught me so much, especially when things did not turn out how I expected them to or wanted them to. I have learned that God has a plan for my life and that he is going to take care of me no matter what. Seeing that God has so much in store for me, I cannot explain how excited I am to see what He is going to do in my life.

This year, I have also learned who I can and cannot trust. I have been in situations this year where I have learned who my real friends are and who I can always talk to about anything.

Not only is my sophomore year gone, but also my last school year with my sister. As you may know from an earlier blog, this year was my sister's senior year. Thinking that I won't get to see her every day, let alone talk to her, is a sad thought. A couple of days ago, I realized she is moving into her dorm room a little bit less than three months now. I do not think that I have fully realized that things are changing and things are going to be different.

Letting go of my sophomore year is hard, but I will always cherish and never forget a single moment.

Of Mice and Men Book Review

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men saddened me with its unexpected story.

This book illustrates the life lesson that anything can happen, good or bad.

Lennie, in the book, is not smart, forgetting everything as soon as he is told. George is smart and quick, knowing what to do. These two friends go through a lot together, keeping each other on their toes.

One thing that I like about this book is that for each chapter, there is a setting and the reading tells a person exactly what is going on around the people so you can picture very easily.

In the beginning of the book, George and Lennie get let off a bus miles away from the farm they are suppose to start working at. Finding the ranch, the first thing they do is talk to the boss and they get hired. George and Lennie meet several characters and learn quickly what each person is like. Throughout the book, there are fights and talks as they learn from each other. But, not meaning any harm, things happen on accident. Having a lot of misunderstandings, things get a little out of hand.

I do recommend Of Mice and Men. The book is sad and it does have some language in it, but Of Mice and Men is a great book.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The House on Mango Street Book Review

Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street confused me because the book did not really have a story line and the book also felt a little scatter- brained to me.

Esperanza is a girl that has moved around a lot and now lives on Mango Street. She has always dreamed to live in a nice, pretty house that her parents always tell her about, but Esperanza is stuck with a beat up, old house for now. Throughout the book, Esperanza talks about what all happens on Mango Street. She talks about her friends and more.

The attitude or tone of the book just felt informative to me. The House on Mango Street just talked about Esperanza's life and what she dealt with.

I would not recommend The House on Mango Street because the book did not excite me in any way or seem interesting.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Teacher Appreciation

I do not know about you, but I know that I do not realize how much my teachers do for me and the rest of my classmates. Preparing us for the real world, I know some of my teachers stay up at late hours of the night working on what my classmates and I need to know to be prepared for tests and even more, college.

I want to say thank you to Mr. Goodwin, Mrs. Roepcke, Mrs. Hogan, Mrs. Gillmore, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Robertson, and Coach Armstrong for all they have done and for what they will do. I also want to thank all my elementary and Junior High teachers for what they have done.

Not only do my teachers help prepare my classmates and me for the rest of our lives, but they are also there for us if we need to talk to them about anything.

With all this said, thank you teachers for helping me through these years, learning what I need to know before I go out into the real world.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Hard Worker

So much depends
upon

A hard
worker

Drenched with
responsibilities

Inside her busy
office.

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Giver Book Review

Lois Lowry's The Giver was a good read because the book made me think a lot and the book was also interesting.

In The Giver, as a person got older, they would get more. When a person in the book turned a one they would be put into a family unit, when they turned a nine they would be given a bicycle, and when they turned a twelve, they would find out what their job was and start training right away.

Everyone's job normally suited what they like doing and the jobs were also typical. But, Jonas's job was a little different. His job was to receive memories and the memories were given by the Giver. Jonas held memories and feelings that no one else in his world knew about. Everyday Jonas would receive memories and feelings from the Giver. Some memories/feelings were good and some were bad.

Jonas gets upset that nobody in his world gets to have memories and feelings like he does. Feeling this way, Jonas figures out a way where it is possible for people to experience something that they can cherish, good or bad.

I do recommend The Giver because the book is an interesting read and because I personally think the end is good. The end lets a person believe whatever they want to believe happened in Jonas's world and lets their imaginations fly.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

My Favorite Techie Tool

My favorite web-based technology tool is blogs. I like blogging because it keeps me thinking and it keeps me organized. I also get to share my opinions and thoughts with my friends. Expressing how I feel about a topic or a book makes me feel good about myself because I feel like I have had a say in what we are doing in my class.

Blogging also makes me feel accomplished. I like working hard and writing posts because I feel like I have done a good job.

Blogs keep me organized with my thoughts and also because my teacher set up a class blog. The class blog helps me out tremendously because I can always check and make sure that I have everything done. This helps a lot with my busy schedule in case I forget something.

In my opinion, blogger is enjoyable. Writing my thoughts down and posting them is easy and fun.

Animal Farm Book Review

George Orwell's Animal Farm was a very interesting, deep read. Have you ever heard of animals taking over a farm? Me either, but this book symbolizes what went on at the time of the Russian Revolution. Relating to the Russian Revolution, Animal Farm made me think a lot.

Mr. Jones, of the Manor farm, was very careless about what went on at his farm. He especially did not care about the animals. Mr. Jones mistreated the animals and worked them very hard with little food. Eventually the animals got tired of his selfish acts and decided to take over the farm. Kicking Mr. Jones and his family out, the animals were finally free. Well, sort of. Being the smartest, the pigs took control of the farm. Two boars, Snowball and Napoleon worked together at first but disagreeing all the time, Snowball was the one to go. Taking over, Napoleon was a selfish liar who only cared about himself. The animals worked so hard and got very little in return. They also had to handle battles to keep the farm. By working all the time and also fighting in battles, the animals had double the work.

Has anybody ever said to you that life is not fair? Well, that is what I thought when I read this book. Life was not fair for the animals beside the pigs. Animal Farm also made me think that a person can only trust themselves and no one else. With these two statements that I thought about, I was able to relate to what is going on in my life right now.

I would definitely recommend this book. Animal Farm is a pretty easy read and the book helps you better understand more of what went on at the time of the Russian Revolution.

The Secret Language of Girls Book Review

Frances O'Roark Dowell's The Secret Language of Girls can relate to teenage girls around the world.

Kate and Maryiln have been best friends forever but now, things are changing. Marylin decides that Kate can act immature at times and she decides to start hanging out with girls who she thinks are more mature. Kate and Marylin go there separate ways and by doing so, they start to hang out with other kids. Through the changes they always wonder about each other. Still caring about Kate and their friendship, Marylin tries to stop what might happen to Kate when things get out of hand.

I would recommend this book because The Secret Language of Girls shows that people go in an out of your lives but there is always a true best friend that will always be there. This book also teaches that no matter what happens in a friendship, true friends always care.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

An Excerpt from Anthem Essay

Any quote from a book can have so much significance and detail behind the sentence that only the author might know. In Anthem there is a lot of meaning behind Ayn Rand’s sentences. She is the only person that knows what she is truly talking about and we could only guess.

“The glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength. We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers” (Page 76, Paragraph 5). The first part of this quote is all about security. In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 are always by themselves doing their own thing and they just want to feel safe and secure. Equality cannot get security from anything or anybody, but they can get the security and strength from this glowing, glass box.

“I wish to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning” (Page 94, Paragraph 3). At the end of the book, Equality 7-2521 starts figuring out who he really is and what life really is. He thinks that he is everything and that he is so confident and so sure of himself. By saying that he is the meaning, Equality thinks that he has solved everything and that all his problems are solved. This quote makes me think that everything revolves around Equality and that he thinks he is the greatest thing on the earth. This quote sounds like he is a snobby kid that only thinks that he is better than the whole world. Equality might think he is right, but he is so wrong on so many different levels.

“I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them” (Page 96, Paragraph 1). Equality definitely acts selfish in this quote. He does not give anything nor does he do anything for his brothers. Not only does he not do anything for his brothers, but he does not want to. Equality 7-2521 does not want to deal with responsibility. He does not want anything because then, he just feels like he has to give something back in return.

These three quotes that Equality 7-2521 said really makes me frustrated and mad. To me, Equality is very selfish. He does not care about his brothers and not caring a thing about other people is the worst thing that a person could do in life. These quotes from Anthem makes it obvious that Equality 7-2521 needs/wants security and love in his life. He feels like the only way he can find security and love is by being selfish, but we all know that being selfish is not the answer to problems and wants, whether we like to think that or not. At the same time, Equality knows that he has a lot in his life and does not need to be selfish about what he has.

My Spring Break

My spring break was the best one that I have had in a long time. I got to go to Orlando, Florida on a band trip. The best part was that I got to go to Disney World with my friends.

At Disney World, I found out that I have grown to love rollar coasters. I went on some rollar coasters that I never thought I would go on. I also love to be on the front row of a rollar coaster because I felt like I was the only one riding the ride.

I got to know more about the people in band. Everybody had so much fun together. What more could a person ask for just hanging out with her friends during spring break at the "happiest place on Earth"?

Driving on the charter buses was fun, but so uncomfortable. I could not get any sleep no matter how hard I tried.

We went to Hollywood Studios, Island of Adventures, Universal Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. There was no possible way to get everything done in one day. One of the reasons why it was not possible was because there were so many people and we had to wait in line for every ride.

I would absolutely love to go back to Disney World again. I would definitely want to go back with my family and get to experience Disney World with them. Going back to Disney World would be worth it. It would be a dream come true.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Anthem Book Review

Ayn Rand's Anthem saddened me, yet inspired me.

In ways, I would say a world that had a lot of rules would be perfect, but in other ways I would say rules do not make a world perfect. In my opinion, freedom would make a world perfect.

Freedom is definitely what Equality 7-2521 was looking for. He breaks a lot of rules- talking to women, stealing, finding a tunnel- but why would he break all these rules you might ask? He wants to be free. He wants to live his own life and not have other people tell him what to do.

This book, was a little confusing. Equality 7-2521 and others went by the word "We". At times I did not know if the characters were talking in the "We" form or if they were just talking about themselves- "I".

I would not recommend this book because in my opinion, Anthem was weird. I would also not recommend this book because the character in Anthem, Equality 7-2521, can persuade a person to think that they are only here on Earth for themselves and not for God.

Someone Like You Book Review

Sarah Dessen's Someone Like You is a scary learning experience that could happen to young girls anywhere.

This book illustrates so many life lessons that kids need to learn today. Responsibility, learning from a person's own mistakes the hard way, and trust.

This book is the story of two best friends that go through rough times together. In Someone Like You, bad things are happening one after the other. When the death of a friend occurs, Scarlett has to lean on Halley, but Halley has never had to take the load. Throughout the book, they have to lean on each other for support when they could not turn to anyone else. Even though they fought sometimes, they both knew that they were there for each other, no matter what.

Some people, like Halley, have to learn things the hard way. I am definitely stubborn at times and I do not like people telling me what the right road to take is. By not listening and doing my own thing, I find out the hard way. In the book, Halley did not like the fact that Scarlett and Halley's mom were telling her what to do. Halley thought she was making the right decision, but in the end she knew that the people who cared about her were right.

This book also teaches trust. Even though the things that were being told to Halley were upsetting, she had to trust her mom and Scarlett but she didn't.

A person also has to step up and take responsibility, even though he/she might not like doing what they have to.

Even though things did not work out how each of them would have liked it to, they learned that they will always be there for each other.

I would definitely recommend this book to a girl that just wants a good read. In my opinion, Someone Like You is an inspiring read because the read reminds a person that their friends are always there for them.

281 pages-1 book

To Perfect My World...

This world is definitely not perfect, the world will ever be. People have so many opinions and different views on a variety of many different things. These opinions and views make it hard for everybody to get along.

In my own world, I would love to perfect many things, but I do not think trying would even help. With my life only, I would want to perfect people's attitudes, including mine. I get so frustrated with people that only care about themselves, and trust me, I can be that way also. I would want to get rid of snobby attitudes and I would love for everybody to be friends. No cliques, no nothing. By doing this, there would be a lot less drama and there would not be any grudges being held. Everybody would get along and be loving and kind towards one other. Being kind and loving towards one another is definitely one of the things that we need in this world.

Everybody deals with stress. Stress makes everything so much more difficult. A person could get stressed and frustrated with himself that they could take the stress out on somebody else that does not deserve it. Yes, we get busy sometimes but it would be nice not to stress about everything that we have to do.

Perfecting attitudes and stress would make my world ten times better. Hopefully these changes would also help out other people in my world.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Lush Book Review

Natasha Friend's Lush saddened me with the terrible story of a girl named Samantha. The most saddest thing about this is that a lot of girls, even guys, have some of the same stories as Samantha in our world today.

The life lesson that this book illustrates is that things can be hard at times and a person might need someone to lean on when they're down. Also when things are going wrong, you just need to hope for the best and never give up on what can happen, and keep faith.

Sometimes you also have to forgive a person when they do wrong.

In Lush, I feel bad for Samantha's whole family. Her dad is an alcoholic and he's to the point where he can't help drinking anymore. Samantha can't talk to her friends about her dad's problem, so she writes a note to someone that she thinks will hopefully help her with her problems.

I would recommend this book. Lush can be depressing at times, but it can keep you on your toes about what can and probably is happening in our world today.

Call of the Wild Book Review

Jack London's The Call of the Wild left me wondering in happy thoughts but at the same time, sad thoughts.

We might not think very often of a dog's life and what it's like, but in silly ways a dog's life can be like a humans' life. Dogs do not always have a pleasurable life. Buck thought his life was pretty great until he was sent out into the wild. Buck and a lot of other dogs get taken away from their homes to go work in Canada because of the gold rush that hit the Klondike region. Men needed the dogs to pull their sleds on long journeys. This can relate to humans because sometimes we have to do jobs that we don't necessarily like to do. In The Call of the Wild dogs fight just like humans would. In the book when the dogs fight they all get around to see the action, and humans do that also. Being similar to humans, dogs have a ruff life and their life is not always happy. Dogs also learn a lot of things along the way.

Buck learns a lot from the humans and dogs in this book; he learns what to do and what not to do on this treacherous journey.

In ways I recommend The Call of the Wild. If it were me, I probably would not pick up this book, but if your the kind of person that likes books about dogs, any kind of animal, or just wants an inspirational read, then I would read this book. Not only does The Call of the Wild talk about dogs and a dog's life, but you might possibly learn the importance on what taking a stand is.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Antigone Book Review

Sophocles's Antigone shows me how dangerous it can be to take a stand.

Antigone is definitely a book on taking a stand for what a person believes, and what they think is best. Unfortunately, for some characters in the book, even though they took a stand, they did not think of the consequences of what could happen in the end.

People definitely need to learn to think before they act, and they also need to always think of any possibilities that could happen in a situation. If they do no act in this way, situations can be very dangerous.

Personally, this was not my kind of book, but if you're the kind of person that likes poetic format, I would say go for it. I would say this because not only is Antigone the style of writing that you like, but this book teaches lessons on taking a stand and what could happen if a situation got too far.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Taking a Stand for Respect

I have yet to take a stand, but one day I would love to take a stand for respect.

Lack of respect is one of my biggest pet peeve’s, but I do not know why I have not stood up for respect yet. In a way, I am probably scared because I would not have a clue as to how people would react.

If a person did not know me then they would be surprised if I took a stand for something that I really cared about, but if somebody did know me they would be happy to see that I did take a stand.

Everywhere I look, I see disrespect.

I see a lot of disrespect towards teachers and elderly people. In probably most of my classes, at least one person has to show disrespect to one of my teachers everyday. People show disrespect towards old people by making fun of how they look, walk, or talk. I hate when I am shopping or at a restaurant and I see a person making fun of an older person. It upsets me so much because that individual may not be able to help the way they look, move, or talk.

Not only have I not taken a stand for respect, but I also have no idea what I would say or do.

If a person knew me, they would say I am very shy and quiet before they got to know me or before I got to know them. So, standing up for something is really hard for me to do in front of people that I do not know very well.

Writing this paper makes me want to try harder to overcome my shyness and to look for opportunities to speak out against disrespect.