Reading-Madi+C

=The Giver=

The Giver Nov 2nd 09 The Giver Lois Lowry 88 – 107

Prediction I think that because of the foreshadowing they have introduced in chapters 12-13, such as when “The Giver” tells Jonas to go away because he is in pain. Jonas goes to the river and is wondering what is on the other side of the fields. I think that when Jonas gets older or more adventurous he is going to sneak out or leave the community to go and find out what else is out there. I believe that this is going to make a big impact on the community.

Nov, 2nd Question: How does the author make the memorizes that the Giver transmits vivid and realistic? Find examples of descriptive words and images. The author made the memorizes vivid and realistic by the amount of description she gave about the memorizes. The first example was when the Giver transmitted sledding and snow and what hills are to Jonas in his training. The author uses lot of description to catch people attention when they are reading. Like when she says “ A tiny, cold, feather like feeling peppered his body and face”. When she talks about the sunburn she explains how the sun was something that Jonas had never experienced before which makes the readers wonder what it would be like to not know what sunburn is.

Nov 4th The Giver Lois Lowry 108 -120

Summary - Gabe is a very reckless sleeper and he is always waking up in the middle of the night. So one night Jonas decides to give his parents a break from having to walk up and talk care of Gabriel. Jonas lets Gabe sleep in his room for one night. I think that Gabe is special, because the night that Gabe sleeps in Jonas room he ends up crying and waking Jonas up in the middle of the night. Jonas gets out of bed to comfort him by rubbing his back. Accidentally he transmits a memory of a calm day on a lake which he was giving by the Giver in one of his training experiences. Gabriel feel right back asleep. I don't think it that if Jonas put his hand on anyone that would happen. Gabe also has pale blue eyes like Jonas and the Giver ...... Maybe Gabriel will become the new receiver after Jonas, and Jonas might end up teaching him like the Giver is teaching Jonas.

Nov 4th Question: Why do you think the author chose snow and a sled ride as the first memory for the Giver to transmit? Explain I think that the Giver used the memory of snow and a sled ride for the first memory because it is something that everyone enjoys. And he wanted something enjoyable for Jonas’s first memory, because if he were to give him something scary or over well ming first then Jonas would never want to come back. And he might leave ... maybe thats what happened to the Receiver before Jonas who they say there training failed.

Nov, 9th The Giver Lois Lowry 121-138

Summary Jonas is getting interested in what else it out of the communities limits, because he now knows what colors are and what love and family mean from his memories. He also knows that there are things that have horrible contributions to the world such as war, and he knows for a fact that he doesn't want those things happening around him. Jonas stops taking the pills for the stirrings because now he doesn't have to, and he likes the feelings anyways. I think that this might be weird for him at first because he might start having the dreams about _ and not know what he should do about it.

Nov 9th Question: Do you consider Jonas's world "advanced" Why of Why not? Explain I wouldn't say that Jonas's world is advanced. But, I think they are aware of the bad things in the world and are willing to give the alot of the good things to get rid of the bad things. Even thought they aren't really getting rid of them. I believe if one little things goes wrong in the community there is going to be a big problem. In other words I think that they are scared of the world.

Nov 18th The Giver Lois Lowry Pages 139 - 162

Visualization/Summary - When Jonas's dad was releasing the twins, I pictured a small white room with cream colored carpet and a square metal table with a scale to weigh the twins. After Jonas's dad weighed both of the twins he sent his acquaintance to take the twin that weighed more to the Center. After she had left he inserted a small needle with clear liquid into the other twins forehead. Jonas remembered having to get a needle when he was a baby and the pain that it gave him. But he also remembered it looking a little bit different. The child finally stopped squirming and grew really quiet until the he was not moving at all anymore. Jonas wondered where he had seen those faces before. After a minute of thinking he remember the soldiers dieing for dehydration and starvation on the feild were they were having war. Initially he knew that the smaller twin had just been killed. With out and hesitation he began to cry and grew very angry with his dad.

Nov 18th Question: Philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon said, "knowledge is pain." Do you agree? Would Jonas? Why or Why not? Explain in a paragraph. Philosopher Francis Bacon once said that "knowledge is pain." I agree, and i think Jonas would too. In Jonas's world he receives all of the memories for the community, good and bad. So that they don't have to deal with things like war and sunburn an poverty. I believe that Jonas has the most knowledge in his community but also has been through the most pain in the community as well.

Nov 20th The Giver Lois Lowry Page 163 - 179

Prediction I think that back in the Jonas's community people are going to start realizing that there are other places in the world, that have snow in the winter and poverty on the streets and are still doing alright. I believe they are going to start understanding that they have been having there lives controlled by the community. Because of the memorizes that Jonas left behind for the community, people, with the Givers help are going to start to understand that there are things in the world like colors, and snow, and love, that they should be experiencing in there life. I believe that they community is going to change.

Nov 20th Question: Is it an optimistic ending? Does Jonas survive? Explain in a paragraph! I believe that "The Giver" has a optimistic ending because I think that Jonas survives and gets excepted in his new community. With out Gabriel Jonas would of given up, I believe Jonas pushed himself to find the new world because he has someone to live for and that was, Gabriel. Jonas might have a hard time trying to live the way people in the other place are. But i think he is strong and will be able to get through it.

=**Uglies**=

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Pages 1-12


 * Strategy Response: (Prediction)** Tally the main character in my story, Uglies. She wants to visit her friend Peris who lives in New Pretty Town. At a certain age in Tally world everyone gets turned into a "Pretty" and leaves UglyVillie to live in Pretty Town. Peris has been turned into a Pretty, but Tally isn't old enough yet. She wants to visit him, the problem is that if a Ugly is caught in New Pretty Town there is a big punishment. Tally decides that she miss him so much she has to risk it. I believe that Tally might get caught before she sees Peris and will have a huge punishment. I think that she might not even be able to become a Pretty.


 * Journal Response Question -** Describe the Setting, when and where does your novel take place? My novel takes place in the future, in a place where Pretty people and Ugly people are separated. Although many Uglies can't wait until they are transformed into a Pretty, I think that being a Ugly has it benefits. Pretties are always mean and are very selfish They only communicate with people who look as good as they do. I believe that as soon a you become a Pretty you lose a lot of your affection and care towards people. I think that Tally might start to understand that during this book.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Page 23-30


 * Strategy Response: (Summary)** - In the chapters I read today Tally sets out for her adventure to find Peris. Tally has to find some way of disguising herself. Fortunately the Pretties are holding a parade and everyone is wearing masks. But the only mask Tally could find was a pig mask so the Pretties still laugh at her because of the way she looks. When Tally finally finds Peris he tells her that she needs to leave and go back to UglyVillie. He explains that as soon as she gets her surgery and becomes pretty they can be friends again. I think that Tally and Peris aren't going to become freinds after she get the operation because if he isn't willing to be her friend know because of the way she looks then his isn't a very good friend.


 * Journal Response Question:** Explain who the Protagonist is by describing their appearance as well as their behavior. The Protagonist in my book "Uglies" is a girl named Tally, she hasn't been transformed into a Pretty yet. So she is still normal and not extremely beautiful as the people living in Pretty Town are. Tally is very outgoing, from what I have read so far she is adventuress and capable of taking risks. Tally is someone I would look up to, she is always moving and sounds like someone fun to be around. But Tally is very self-conscious and she worries about what others think of her.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Page 30-41


 * Strategy Response (Visualization) -** During Tally escape back to Ugly Ville she meets a girl named Shay, Shay was headed for Pretty Town when she heard the fire alarm go off. As she was leaving she bumps into Tally who was escaping as well, they decide to escape together. Shay doesn't know about the old bridge that helped Tally into Pretty Town. In Tally world everything, even inanimate objects can tattle. Meaning they send a signal which tells everyone that someone is trying to disrupt there town. But the old bridge doesn't have that ability. Shay didn't know about the old bridge so instead she tricked a hovercraft into taking her across the river. Tally is fascinated and wants to learn how to use a hovercraft so Shay decides that with her help Tally will be riding in no time.


 * Journal Response Question**: Describe the conflict(s) so far in your novel. Explain it with detail. Identify the type of conflict. I think that the most important conflict in my story so far is person vs. community. Shay the girl that Tally meet in on her escape from Pretty Town is not happy about having to change what she looks like just because there are curtain things that the community thinks make a person pretty. But Tally on the other hand can't wait until she gets the surgery. I agree with Shay, because to have people judging you just because you nose isn't perfectly straight or your eyes aren't completely centered, would make me feel really bad my self. I believe it is wrong to judge someone by the way they look.

Dec 9th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 42-48


 * Strategy Response: (Summary)** - Unlike most of the teenagers in UglieVille, Shay doesn’t agree with the fact that in 2 months and 15 day her and Tally are going to get surgery to be Pretties. She believes that people are prefect how they are, and doctors shouldn’t be changing them. In every dorm room there is a computer program that you can go on, and see what you would look like after having the surgery. Tally can’t wait until she isn’t an Ugly and more. Shay doesn’t agree, she thinks that the program is just to make people feel bad about themselves so that they will become more excited about the operation and not back down.


 * Journ****al Response Question** : Describe the similarities and differences between the main character and you? Tally is the main character in my book. She is very easy going and fun to be around. But she also is very self-conscious and worries about want others are thinking of her. Tally can be loud and play full around the people she knows and trusts but she is very shy around strangers. I am the same, some of the things Shay does I could see me doing. At the same time me and Shay are very different. I am a perfectionist and she tries but doesn't put everything she has into doing things. I believe that me and Shay are a lot alike.

Dec 11th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Pages 49-60


 * Strategy Response: (Summary) -** Shay wants to go on an adventure with Tally outside of the city limits. But Tally is to scared, and remembers promising Peris that she won't get into trouble. But Shay's voice it too convincing, so they trick there hoverborads into crossing the city limits without tattling on them. Surprisingly Shay knows all the tricks to getting a hover board to do what you want. First they have to fly over the river, it was Tally's first time seeing what white water was. And with no surprise to Shay she loves it. Finally after reaching the Ruins Tally remembers all the school field trips the had there. In the dark and quiet city she realizes that the Ruins are way bigger then she remembered. Standing under the huge buildings she wonders why the teachers made it sound so boring, like it was just another regular place.

Dec 14th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Pages 61-68


 * Strategy Response:(Visualization) -** What I see when Tally and Shay arrive in the Ruins, is a big city that is dark and has been deserted. I see huge buildings with rusting metal on the outsides and cars that are pilled and squeezed together. I can visualize the people trying to escape on that night when whatever destroyed the city happened. Because the book doesn't tell me what made all of the people leave it is hard to picture what actually happened. I would of liked if there was more description on the way the city looked.


 * Journal Response Question -** What connections are there between the novel and your own life? Explain by giving details/examples. The thing that I can connected between my life and the novel is, how hard it would be to be separated because of the way you look. I would be like Tally, I would be wanting to become pretty and not be laughed at for the way I look. But then again I agree with Shay, I think Shay is really strong to be able to put up with everyone's opinions and still not want to be changed.

Dec 16th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 69-76


 * Strategy Response (Prediction) -** Tally and Shay are still in the Ruins, and Shay wants Tally to meet someone. His name is David and he is someone who Shay said lives outside of there community, but doesn't live in the Ruins either. Shay signals him to come by lighting off a firework. But after waiting and waiting they decided that it is getting dark and they want to go home.

-What made you want to write about this theme? -Do you agree with separating "Pretties" and "Uglies"? -Would you like if this book was made into a movie?
 * Journal Response Question:** What are three questions that you have about your novel? Write them down.

Jan 6th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 76-88


 * Strategy Response (Summary)** - Shay and Tally only have one more week before they undertake there operation to become "Pretty". Tally is really excited but Shay on the other hand is very scared and doesn't want to become pretty. Tally and Shay get into a argument about why people should be changed. I disagree with the city because I think everyone is different and after you all get surgery you become the same as everyone else so no one would be special. I believe that because of Tally's and Shay's argument they are going to start to understand one another and why one of them wants the surgery and why one of them doesn't.

Jan 8th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 88 -102


 * Strategy Response (Prediction) -** So far in my chapter that I read today, Shay has run away and is not going to get the operation. What she was planning was that Tally and her would escape to where David lives. She described it as a place where everyone is ugly ..... meaning no one is pretty. Tally wasn't willing to leave. She wanted to get the operation so she decided to stay behind and go through with the operation. After 4 days with out Shay it is the big day. On the day of the operation something goes wrong and the doctor tells her that there has been some complications with the operation. I predict that Tally isn't going to be able to get the operation and is going to start searching for Shay because since she can't get the operation any ways why would she stay in Uglie Ville.

Jan 11th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 102 - 115


 * Strategy Response (Summary) -** During this chapter Tally went with the doctor to a place called "Special Circumstances". She gets locked in a room with a women. I pictured this room with steel walls and no windows. I see a long square table in the middle of the room with a chair on either end. When Tally walk in she noticed a women sitting on the far end of the table. First the women started out nice and was asking freindly questions like her name, and age and things like that. But then she just got really mean. And she started getting really mad. She told Tally that they where looking for Shay but couldn't find her. And that they need Tally's help because she was the last person Shay had talk to before she disappeared.Before Shay left she gave Tally a note that had a riddle on it.The riddle said " Take the coaster straight past the gap, until you find one that is long and flat. Cold is the sea and watch for breaks. At the second make the worst mistake. Four days later take the side you despise, and look in the flowers for fire-bug eyes. Once there found enjoy the flight. Then wait on the bald head until it's light. But Tally decided not to tell the women that. After the women asked Tally a whole bunch of questions Tally told her that she was never going to tell anyone where Shay had gone and that was final. The women was furious she stormed out of the room. After a couple of minutes she returned and told Tally that as long and she was going to tell them where Shay was they weren't going to make her pretty. At that moment Tally's heart broke.

Jan 18th Uglies Scott Westerfeld


 * Journal Response** - That night after Tally got home from Special Circumstances Tally’s parents had come to talk to her about what had happened. Ellie and Sol her mom and dad told Tally that she needed to tell Special Circumstances were Shay was because Shay could be in trouble and the people at Special Circumstances knew what they were doing. Tally was still unsure and told her mom and dad that she was going to have to think about it. But the person who made up Tally’s decision was Peris. He came by to see Tally and convinced her that she needed to tell Special Circumstances what they needed to know because he needed Tally to become pretty. He said that he missed her way to much for her to stay Ugly forever just because she wouldn’t tell the people something that she said she would keep a secret.

Jan 20th Uglies Scott Westerfeld 127 142
 * Strategy Response (Prediction) -** The next day Tally had made up her desision and she went to Special Circumstances to tell them what she knew. After telling the women who she had finally figured was named Dr. Cable everything she knew. Tally was expecting to go home and again get ready for the operation but instead that isn't what happened. Dr.Cable told Tally that she was going to have to go home and pack her bags. but not for the operation. She was going to have to get ready to go to the Smoke. She explained that they needed her to go find Shay because they didn't know were to start. At first Tally was very frustrated and quiet mad but then she decided to just listen to the women and do what she was told. Before Tally left to go to the Smoke Dr. Cable gave her a necklace to use when she got there. It would signal them and let them know that she had found Shay. I predict that Tally is going to get to the Smoke and not want to come back, so instead of signaling Special Circumstances she is just going to stay there with Shay. I think that the Smoke is going to be a little town kinda like Crossfield.


 * Jou****rnal Response Question :** What would you say to one of the characters in your book? Explain why you would say this. If I could ask anyone of my characters in my story it would be Tally. I would ask Tally if she would rather risk her friendship with Shay to become pretty or if she would rather stay ugly for the rest of her like just to be with her best friend. I really want to know what means more to Shay because if it were me I would stay ugly just to be with my friends.

Jan 22nd Uglies Scott Westerfeld 142-151


 * Strategy Response (Summa**ry) - Shay is having a hard time trying to figure out what Shay was trying to say in the riddle she left. Shay described something like the roller coaster but, she said it was long and flat. She said that is seamed to go on for ever and ever. Tally doesn't understand why the people who lived in the Ruins before would create something like that. I think that Shay is describing train tracks, they would look like the tracks of a roller coaster and the always seem to go on for ever and ever. After Shay looked for what seemed to be forever she finally found what Tally was describing, and it was train tracks. So she followed them all thought the night and into the morning.


 * Journal Response Question** - What parts of your book seems most believable? Most unbelievable? Explain. The book I am reading is very fictional, lots of the things are hard to imagine and to believe. In Tally's world they use hover boards for transportation, and they can communicate with unanimities objects such as there bridges and buildings. So to me the most unbelievable thing would be the way they run there lives. And the most believable thing to me would be the Ruins and the way people who lived there ran there lives.

=**Marked**=

Jan 25th, 2010 Uglies


 * Strategy Response** - (Summary) As Tally began to wake up she started to see the sunrise and knew she had been following the right tracks all night. One the note Shay wrote "cold is the sea and watch for breaks" at first Tally had no idea what that meet until she came up over the hill and could see the ocean. So she decided so speed up, when she finally reached top speed and the hoverboard could go no faster. All of the sudden she couldn't see the ground underneath her anymore and when she look again she was able to establish that the bridge had broken in half and there was no river under her. Just a huge gap with the ocean splashing against the big rocks and the edge of the cliff. At that moment she began to descend falling faster and faster towards the ocean underneath her. She decided she had to try something so she opened her jacket and pretended to be a brid flying thorugh the sky. In that second a gust of wind swished though her arms are she began to rise. Suddenly she was rising higher and higher and higher. She finally reached the top of the cliff and drastically jump for the ground.


 * Journal Response Questio****n** - What are 2 emotions the main character has felt? What made the character feel this way. The main character is Tally, after Shay left to go to live in the Smoke Tally felt really lonely and abandoned. She described the feeling like being abandoned but still have millions of people around you except non of them understand you. I think I would of felt very alone and forgotten. Even though Tally was asked to go on Shay's adventure with her. And she decided to turn her down, now knowing what she had down made Tally extremely mad that she had just let Shay leave without a fight. When Tally meet Shay on her escape from pretty town Tally felt excited and like she might not be so lonely anymore. After Peris had left her to become pretty she was all alone until Shay and her meet.

Jan 27th Uglies Pages 157 - 163


 * Strategy Response** - Tally woke up after having a horrible nightmare. She drempt that she had been hovering along with nothing underneath her, almost like she was floating on air. Then all of the sudden out of the blue she started falling from the sky. Into a descending cliff that was heading the crashing waves of the ocean. Tally suddenly woke up screaming in fright. After catching her breath, and was able to think clearly again she decided that in order to keep up the time and not fall behind she was going to travel at night. So she had something to eat and was on her way. As Tally read over Shay's letter she got more confused each time. Wasting time was not such a good idea so Tally decided she was just going to figure it out on the way. At the second cliff she realized that her water purifier was out and she had to get to the ocean to find more water. Tally's only choice was to start going down. First she was going slow, making her hover board work it's hardest just to stay straight and go slowly. She could tell that the amount of iron was starting to decrease because the lights on the hover board were disappearing one by one. Unexpectedly Tally began to fall and was falling faster then before. She spread out her jacket like last time trying to catch a breeze but this time the valley had no wind. Tally could feel her nightmare coming true. But instead of falling into the freezing ocean her interface bracelet caught her and carefully cared her to the edge and put her down right beside her hover board. And once again Tally was saved before falling into the ocean.

New Moon
 * Journal Response Question** - What does theme mean? What is the theme in the novel you are reading or have just read. Explain. Theme is the lesson that the author wants you to learn from the story. Bella is the main character in this book she has fallen in love with a boy named Edward. He is a vampire but after Bella finds this out she doesn't change her feelings towards him. I believe that the theme in New Moon is whether you are a different rase or a different religion or even a different species you can still fall in love with someone completely opposite from you.

Feb 1st Uglies


 * Strategy Response** - Tally was very lucky to be safe and not have landed in the ocean. She knew that she had sometime to make up but she was way to tired so she went to slept. When Tally woke up it was dark again, in Ugly Ville Tally usually had a bath ever second day but know in her wet,cold, and smelly sleeping bag she could tell she needed to get clean. The ocean had a little river running down the side and into it so Shay decided she had to try and clean her self up. First she tested the water to see how cold it was. She was hoping that because it had been sitting out in the sun all day it would be a little bit warmer. But that wasn't the case, in-fact it was freezing cold. She took a running jump dove right in making a big splash in the progress. After cleaning her hair and washing her body Tally jumped out shivering. Then she heard a sound, something that shook the horizon. I think that Tally probable hear some kind of animal, maybe a bear, or a wolf.


 * Question Response:** What is your favorite part of the book you’re reading? Why? Be descriptive in your explanations. My favorite part of my book is Tally's adventure to find the Smoke. It is fun reading about her having lots of fun trying to figure out what Shay's riddle means. As well the book is very descriptive so it almost seems like I am there with Tally every moment. It's also fun when she learns about a lot of things on her way, like train tracks and how big the ocean actually is. I think it would be weird to live in a city where you are block out of a lot of thing that we have in our lives. And then when Shay goes on this adventure she finds out so many new things. This books is a lot like "The Giver", in the Giver Jonas and his community don't know a lot of things about the world that we know, which is exactly like Uglies.

Feb 3rd Uglies Pages 163- 172


 * Strategy Response (Visualization)** - Instead of the sound being a bear or a wolf it was actually some kind of machine. Tally described it as making it's own tornado as it glided to the ground even more graceful then a hover board. The little tornado then ripped Tally's sleeping bag into many little piece and scattered her stuff all over the ground. Luckily after seeing Tally it disappeared into the sky. After being in shock for about 5 minutes Tally decided to get on her way. She read Shay's note to herself over and over and over again but just like usual she didn't understand the next line and was get very frustrated. After traveling down the river she started to see a bunch of flowers in the distance. When she started to approach them she could see that flowers more clearly. I picture a field complete full of white and yellow flowers that seams to go on forever, Tally was very amazed of how pretty they looked. It was almost lunch so she decided to set up camp. And fell into a deep sleep.


 * Question Response** - If you were the author, what would you have happening next? Explain the details and tell why you would make this decision. If I could choice what would happen next on Tally's adventure I would have Tally complete the riddle. Because she has been spending a lot of time figuring out the riddle and I really want to know what the Smoke is going to be like. Then I would have her find Shay and all of Shay's friends. Tally would think of Shay's life as very weird and not understand it at first but after sometime she would start to honor their way of life. Tally would become very involved in the rituals and the things they believe. Eventually Tally wouldn't want to go back to Pretty Town. Since I know that this book becomes a series I would have Tally maybe accidentally set off then necklace and have Special Circumstances come and find them.

Feb 5th 2010

Describe what is happening in the image below. Why do you think the person in the image is doing what he is doing? What does this tell you about the situation that he may be in? What is your reaction to this image/How does is make you feel?

This image shows a man who has recently survived a earthquake in Haiti and is drinking juice drippings from a stolen bag of juice. I believe that the man in the image above is so thirsty that he is doing anything he can to get something to drink. Because of the shape he is in I would say that the earthquake probably destroyed alot of his town and most likely kill hundreds of people he knew. This is a horrible thing and it makes me feel bad that there is nothing I can do to help. This man probable feels scared, hopeless, nervous, fearful, and terrified, he is in horrible conditions and yet there is so many people in other countries that are taking things for granted. I believe that normally this man probably wouldn't be stealing things but when you are in situations like that you just have to survive.

Feb 8th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Pages 172-188


 * Strategy Response Summary** - Tally has finished her adventure and meet up with the people from the Smoke. Before she found them she had woken up from her camp to a world that looked like it was on fire. Unable to see what was happening she tried to escaped by finding the river, but sadly that just mad it worse. Because when she reached the river she was thrown into it by a big gust of wind. With some help from her hover board she made it up and out of the water. Then she discovered that the fire was being spread by a machine that was flying above her. The machine looked familiar but she didn't know where she had seen one before. Slowly the machine landed and she saw that the people inside were pretties and they were just trying to kill off all of the weeds that were taking over the fields with there aggressive roots. Thanks to the pretties she finally reached the hill where she was to meet the people from the Smoke. I believe that Shay and Tally are going to be even better freinds know and Tally is going to want to stay in the Smoke forever.


 * Question Response** - In 4-6 sentences described several insights you've gained from your reading. you may include the book you are currently reading or a book that you already completed. From the book I am reading I have learned that people can view life in many different ways and skill be able to be best freinds. For example Shay and the people living in the Smoke viewed life a completely different way then Tally and most of the people living in her city. This is the same in are lives today, many people in different religions, or people living in different city have completely different world views. But we are all one world and we are all just people.

Feb 10th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 188-201


 * Strategy Response Word Attack-** The word that I didn't understand was grotesquely. The sentence said "Some were grotesquely fat, or weirdly over muscled, or uncomfortably thin, and almost all of them had young ugly proportions". To try and figure out what the word meant I continued to read but, sadly that didn't work so then I tried to put other words in its place that might make sense. I decided that the word probable meant extremely. After we finished reading I searched it in the dictionary and discovered that it meant badly, or brutally. Know after discovering what grotesquely means that sentence makes more sense.


 * Question Response** - Select a quote that you like from your book that you are reading. Why did you pick it? What made you think about it? My favorite quote from my book is "what you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful". I picked it because I think it is very inspirational and I agree with it. I believe that the way you think of yourself and the way you want you life to turn out is the way it will, if you try hard to get things you want and never give up. I believe that this has inspired Tally and Shay to escape and live there life a different way and others.

Fe b 22nd Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 201-115


 * Strategy Response Word Attack** - Well I was reading I got stuck on the word latrine. First I decided to read over the sentence a few times. But because I still didn't know what the word was that didn't help. The sentence said "a terns for sheep wool their sweaters were made from; a new latrine. Than I decided to read the next couples of sentences but that didn't help either. After reading my chapter I went and looked it up in the dictionary and it said that latrine was . And know I know what Tally was talking about in her conversation.


 * Question Response** - Would you be friends with the main character? Why or why not? Support w/ evidence from your reading in a paragraph. I think me and Tally would be great freinds because we have a lot of similarities in are attitude and are personalities. But because of are completely different worlds we might have a lot of fights and arguments. Just like Tally and Shay I think we would be able to get closer with every argument.

Feb 24th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Page 115 - 128


 * Strategy Response Summary** - Tally is fitting in quite well at the Smoke, her and Shay are getting along way better. David is completely different then Tally thought he was going to be like. He is like any other 18 year old but he works hard at what he does and he has pride in his work. Tally kinda thinks that David is different looking, she described him as being an ulgy but having some very pretty features. I believe that Tally and David are going to become really good freinds, or even more then freinds. David took Tally into a cave of boulders to show her what happened to the train tracks when the boulders all feels down. He believes that he can trust Tally so he told Tally a secret. David explained that he had no choice to stay ugly, because he was born in the Smoke. His parents were doctors and after they got the operation they knew that it wasn't the right choice and they decided to change the way they looked and go back to looking ugly. And then they ran away, creating the Smoke.


 * Question Response -** List three new vocabulary words from your reading. What can you tell about them from their structure (break them into chunks, look at prefixes and suffixes)? What can you tell about them from their context (meaning gathered from the sentence and paragraph around)? The three words from my reading that are new to me are infiltrator page 187 rendezvous page 133 purgatory 128.

Feb 26th 2010 It's not whether you get knocked down ... it's whether you get back up - **Vince Lombardi**

I choose the quote by Vince Lombardi, he once said "//It's not whether you get knocked down ... it's whether you get back up".// I want to write a paragraph about it because it was the most meaningful to me. Unlike most of the other paragraphs I think it showed the kind of person Vince Lombardi is. To me this quote means during your life things are going to knock you down and make you feel helpless, but unless you get back up nothing is ever going to change, you will always feel like that. Having perseverance determination and willpower are great quality to have and will help you to stay confident and help you be yourself, which is why I picked this quote.

=**Absolutely Normal Chaos**=

March 3rd Absolutely Normal Chaos Sharon Creech


 * Strategy Response Summary - Absolutely Normal Chaos is a journal about a girl named Mary Lou Finney, before summer holiday's she was ask to create a journal describing her summer for the class. Mary lives in a house full of people, she lives with her mom, dad, 2 brothers and 1 sister. Mary is thirteen years old and full of questions. Her best friends name is and she is the same age as her.

Question Response - What you are reading is going to be made into a movie. Make a list five characters, what famous actor will play each character and what about the character makes that actor the best choice for the part. If I was going to produce a movie based on Uglies I would pick 5 actors/actresses to play the parts of Shay, Tally, David, Dr.Cable, and Peris. The actress who would need to play Tally's part would be someone who is funny, exciting and adventures but I picture Tally having brown eyes, brown hair, and being pretty tall, so I would probably pick Miranda Cosgrove because she has all of those qualities. For Shay part the actress would need to have blonde hair and brown eyes, she would also need to be full of energy and always on the go, just like Shay is. Emily Osment would be a great actress for this part. David is someone who has lots of confidence and he is full of wisdom. I picture David with brown short hair and blue eyes so I would cast Jermet Stumpter for his part. Dr. Cable's part is someone old women how is always in a bad modd and never smiles, I would pick Cathrine Deneuve to play Dr. Cable's part. As for Peris the actor would need to be fit and sporty, he has blonde curly hair and bright blue eyes. So Edward Speleers would be the pre actor for his part. Now those are all the people I would cast for the movie. Uglies **
 * 

March 8th Uglies Scott Westerfeld

Strategy Response Summary - Tally is getting way more comfortable with the way the Smokies runs things in their community. But because of how many years she spent living in the City she still has her ways of doing things. Croy one of Davids friends is getting concerned on how long it took Tally to get to the smoke. And is ancouis to find out if she is truly there for the right reasons.

Question Response: What is the author trying to tell you about life in this story? Defend this moral. I believe that the author is trying to edify that life is not always going to be easy. They are going to be hard decisions you are going to have to make, and people you might have to hurt in order to keep them safe. Just like in Tally's situation where she either had to stay ugly forever or go on the adventure to the Smoke. She was forced to either betray Shay and everyone is the Smoke, or become different and at the moment being different wasn't an option.

Uglies March 10th Scott Westerfeld Pages 239-255

Strategy Response Prediction - Tally and David are getting closer and closer to each other everyday. They are always together and I think they are beginning to become more then just freinds. David has shared many secrets with Tally and trusts her with all of his heart, but Tally still hasn't told him her biggest secret about being a spy. In the chapter I read today David has convinced Tally that she should meet his parents, so they are on there way to his parents house.

Question Response: Do you think that the title fits the story? Give your opinion with reasons to support. I believe Scott Westerfeld made a great choice on titling the book "Uglies". I think because the book is named Uglies before you start to read it you will have many different ideas on what it is going to be about. Giving you the opportunity to make your own opinion about the book. Making it more interesting to find out if you are right. When I first saw the book I assumed is was going to be about people who are Ugly and the different way they are treated.

March 14th Scott Westerfeld Pages 255-296

Strategy Response Summary - Davids parents are very friendly and treat Tally like they have known here forever. David's parents were both doctors and at one time they were both pretties. His parents explain their story of why they turned themselves back to Uglies. Just like David had said they were doctors and they had been studying the operation for many year but finally one day they discovered that pretties for all different city had lesions. But uglies and pretties that had became important to Smoke considering they were the only doctors. They explained that during the operation Doctors insert lesions into your brain so that you will think a different way and there wont be alot of complications in New Pretty town. Az's Davids dad explained that after you became a fire fighter or doctor you had to have fast reflects and so you don't get the lesions. Maddy, Davids mom explain what the lesions did to people and how they were effected. The operation didn't just effect the way you looked but also effected the way you thought. After Tally and David had a long talk about the operation and everything else they decided it was getting late and they should go. On the way home David and Tally were very quiet until David suddenly said " I'm happy you didn't become pretty and decided you run away to the smoke" In confusion Tally asked why and David said " because I think you are really beautiful. Tally was very confused and said " I'm not beautiful, I haven't gotten the operation and my eyes are too far apart as-well as my nose is to big also my bottom lip is two crooched". David smiled and said "you are perfect the way you are and don't ever change" Tally smiled and they kissed. Then Tally decided that the only way to prove to David that she was in-love with him was to throw the heart pendent into the fire. After proving that she wasn't taken and she was all his she went to sleep, walking up to special circumstances out side of her window.

=**Marked**=

March 15th Uglies Scott Westerfeld Pages 196-312

Strategy Response – In this chapter Tally was captured by a Special and taken to Dr.Cable. Dr.Cable thanked her for finally activated the pendent but was worried about why it took her so long. Tally still believes that she wasn’t the one who called the City to come because she threw the pendent into the fire, which should of burned it. Dr. Cable asked Tally to go find the pendent because Tally told her that she hind it for her own safety, instead of throwing it in the fire. On the way to “find” the pendent Tally was accompanied by a special who was asked to make sure she didn’t escape. Tally ended up convincing the special to unhand cuff her because she wouldn’t be able to find it. As soon as he let her go Tally made a run for her hover board, which was charging, on the roof.

Question Response – List at least 3 problem the characters faced? Which was the most life changing? Tally has faced the most amount of problem and challenges during this book.

Uglies March Scott Westerfeld Pages

Strategy Response - As Tally gained speed it got harder and harder to balance. That morning Tally had been in such a rush to figure out what was going on she forgot to put shoes on. And know with her trying to escape the specials it was much harder. On Tally's next turn she heard the sound of the hover cars start up, which meant she was being chased. All though the hover cars where much faster and didn't need medal to be able to run the hover board was much more menovarable and would help Tally stay away. As Tally was thinking of somewhere to hide she was also thinking of David. She hadn't seen him this morning and was wondering if he had escaped or was with the rest of the smokies waiting to return to the city. All of the sudden Tally remember the cave that David had showed her on her first day there and decided that would be a prefect place to hide, because she would be protected by the big boulders and because of the shadows made by them the cave would be nice and cold making it hard to find Tally by her body heat. So she decided to head up there, as Tally raced down the tracks toward the cave she glanced back to she the hover cars gaining speed on her. Then she saw the cave and headed right for it, when she reached the cave she went to the very back of the cave and just waiting for what was going to happen next.

Question Response - What is the mood of what you’re reading (happy, sad, funny, serious, etc.)? Defend your idea by giving examples from the novel.

Uglies April 8th Scott Westerfeld Pages 365-374

Summary Response - David and Tally stayed in the cave for 3 day without going outside to see if Special Circumstances had left. After spending so much time in one place Tally and David decided they were going to have to leave the cave eventually. As they rode into the Smoke they could smell that the village had been left in flames. David was anxious to see if his parents had been able to stay hidden from the invaders. As they reached Az and Maddy's house they began to realize that the Specials had reached their house before they had. As David walked through the house he remembered that his parents had keep a shed full of stuff that he might need if the Smoke was ever destroyed. And now would be the perfect time for him to use those things. So him and Tally packed their bags and got ready for their big trip to the city. Although Tally was trying to stay as far away from the city as possible she knew that David’s parents were being held prisoners at Special Circumstances. So as they began their trip they knew they were going to have to put there all into it.

Uglies April 10th Scott Westerfeld

Summary Response - Tally and David have been traveling for about 2 days and have had no sound of Specials. As they started to reach the Ruins Tally started to worry if they had been to long and if Shay, Maddy, Az, and Croy had already been turned into Pretties. Tally and David we teaching each other alot of things about they had learned in there different societies. And as they left the Ruins Tally was leading the way to the City. When they finally reached the outside of the City Tally had remember all of her old memorize and everything she had missed in these past months like hot showers and warm beds. In order to sneak into Special Circumstances with all of the security they were going to need a distraction and who was better for the job then a bunch of Uglies trying to escape to the Smoke. And Dex, Suzy, and An were the perfect people for the job. They had been planning on going to the Smoke for a long time and now to see David standing in front of them they knew they had to help. So on the night of Davids and Tally invasion Dex, An, and Suzy traveled to New Pretty town and set off fireworks that spelt "The Smoke Lives". I think Dr. Cable is going to get really mad and wonder what is happening and send off a bunch of guards to cheek out the sight.

Uglies April 19th Scott Westerfeld

Summary Response - Everyone has arrived at the cave where they are hiding from the specials, except for Maddy and David. Maddy decided she was going to take David to the ruins and they would meet up with the group in the morning. Maddy knows that this is going to be hard for Davids and she wants to be alone with him when she explains what happened to this father. Well they waited in the cave Tally got more and more tired but just couldn't stop thinking about David. And Shay's complaining wasn't helping the situation but like usual everyone just tried to ignore it. The next morning as they arrived in the Ruins David told Tally that his mom had found some of Dr.Cable's research and was hoping to find some stuff about the lesions. Even though the Smoke had been destroyed many Uglies were still going on expeditions to the Ruins to try and find David. So the group was still getting time to be around civilization. After a couple of days Maddy had found out what Dr.Cable had been planning for the Specials and what the lesions were all about. So she spent some time and found a cure that could cure the Pretties minds. And who was better to test the cure on other then Shay. But the problem was that Shay wasn't so excited about becoming Uglies again.

Question response: Who is the author? What do you know about the author? What do you imagine the author must be like? //**Explain in a paragraph.**//

Uglies April 21st Scott Westerfeld

Strategy Response (Summary/Prediction) - After trying to convince Shay what the operation had done to her. Maddy finally gave up, she told Shay that it was her choice and that if she didn't want to take the pills then she didn't have to. Tally wasn't very impressed with Shay, after all she hadn't wanted to get the operation from the very beginning. Tally was stuck between a rock and a hard spot, she want Shay to be herself and to get changed, but she couldn't force Shay to take the pills other wise she would be just like Dr.Cable. Tally finally decided that she was going to have to test the pills herself and the only way to do that was to become pretty. On her way to tell David that she had to leave she thought that now would be the time to tell him her secret of being a spy this whole time. As she explained she story to David he was dumbfounded and didn't know what to think, she told him that she had been a spy for Dr.Cable and that she hadn't gone to the Smoke to see is Shay was alright she had gone so she could bring Shay back. Davids first reaction after focusing back to reality was to run so he jump on a hover board and left. Tally knew that she was probable going to want to change her mind when he came back so she had to leave as soon as possible. She wrote a letter to herself hoping that once she was captured from Special Circumstance and brought back to the Ruins to be cured she could read her letter and know what she wanted. Shay ended up convincing Tally to take her back with her, so on their way to the city Tally was forced to think of all of her and Shay before the Smoke and all the memories in the Smoke. When they reached the City Tally knew that this was the end and the beginning of a whole different life. I believe that Tally will probable become Pretty and then end up being rescued by David.

Question Response - Question response: Compare where you live to the setting described in what you are reading. //**Explain in a paragraph.**// The book Uglies compared to are life is the same is many ways. In Uglies everyone is judged by the way they look,


 * April 24, 2010:** **U of L Video Shoot Questions for Reflection**
 * How often do you use the laptops at school? We are able to use a laptops a lot at school, but it sometimes depends on the class and what we are doing.
 * What subjects do you mainly use the laptops for? We are always using are laptops in L.A. That is the class we use them the most. But we rarely use them in Science. This is sometimes hard to remember what class to bring them to. But it's also helping us get ready for next year when we won't have them.
 * What sort of programs (softwares) do you use on the laptops? We use word a lot, and the internet all the time. We sometimes use programs like Imovie, IDVD, and Garage Band.
 * What do you like best about having your own laptop? It gives us the opportunity to learn differently. And everywhere in the work place uses technology so they are giving us a head start society.
 * Is there anything you don’t like or would change with the laptops?

=Wall-E Essay=

Wall-E’s World April 12 2010 Madison Cowley

Have you ever wondered what our world is going to be like in 20 years? Well your probably thinking exactly what they thought on Earth in Wall-E’s world. Wall-E is a robot that was left on Earth to clean up all of the people’s mess. Earth was getting destroyed by the people but by the time they realized what they were doing it was to late. Leaving them with no choice but to go live in Space. Wall-E spends his days cleaning the city and collecting special items. Everything that Wall-E collects shows how he sees things completely differently then we do, like when he looks at something we would call garbage he finds someway to make it into something different. The ring box stood out the most compared to all of the items Wall-E collected. He didn’t use it for a ring box he chooses to collect it because it was something he had never seen before. This shows that things can be reused instead of getting thrown into the garbage and creating pollution for the environment. Although Wall-E’s world is full of nothing but garbage he finds someway to make the best of it. Everything we do as humans effects what are world is going to turn into. And our future is changing for the worst, so unless we do something about it we might end up in Space too.

Our world is full of incredible things, but we are ruining them everyday. And sadly were not just ruining our environment were ruining our chances to exist on Earth. Pollution affects billions of people over the world; millions of humans are killed or harmed each year because of pollution. Although our world can look beautiful it is often the pollution that we don’t see that can be the most harmful. If we look at how much garbage one person creates and times that by the amount of people living on Earth it is pretty incredible. Wall-E’s world was once full of beautiful green spaces. Everyone had stopped caring about the Earth, and it was lost. His world was destroyed and there was nothing left but garbage, garbage and more garbage. And unless we start to take care of the Earth we are going to end up having robots like Wall-E clean up our garbage too. In this movie “Buy in Large” had a huge impact on the world Wall-E lived in. This worldview company encouraged people to buy excessively, which in turn created more waste. I think we have a lot of big companies like this in our society today. For example you walk into Wal-Mart or Costco, the first thing you are going to see are deals like buy one get one free or buy bulk. These deals might be more cost effective for us, but before you buy them ask your self do you really need that much.

Technology has a big impact on are world and has been growing fast for the last couple of years. Although technology is great, we are depending on it way too much. For example on new years eve of 1999 people all over the world thought that the computers weren’t going to be able to accommodate the change from year 1999 to 2000, so millions of people lived in fear. They believed that all banks would lose their money and business would be unable to function because of computer glitches. In Wall-E the Axiom, which was the ship that the humans had been sent to live on, was full of technology. In the movie they showed the captains from the first year on the ship to the last. The thing that shocked me the most was the difference in weight between the captains. The first captain of the ship was a small man and very skinny, but after the years they got heavier and heavier. I believe that this represents the society is becoming lazier and lazier. Most likely due to robots doing everything for them. Eventually the robots start to gain control because the humans allow it. No one talks to each other and all day everyone just sits on their moving chairs and stares at the computer. Most people don’t even know what they are doing. I don’t think that this would ever happen to us, however we are on the same path, when you can observe people in today’s society spending more time texting each other rather then have actual conversations and creating human relationships.

The future could be wonderful, a place were new inventions will be created and our world will change forever. But our future doesn’t look so hopeful if we continue to destroy our earth. We are changing the future every minute, and not for the better. Wall-E was sent to Earth to fix it, well the Axiom was sent to space for the people to start a new life. But instead of getting ready to return to the Earth people just sat around and pretended that everything was perfectly fine. Before the humans left they were told that the World would be back to it’s magnificent self in less then 2 years, but 300 years later the humans are still up in space enjoying their vacation. Although the movie portrays this as what our future may hold, it seems exaggerated. I believe that it is way to unrealistic. This portrayal is how the director catches the audience’s attention; and he sure caught mine. After watching the movie I felt like I needed to do something; recycle more or do something good for the environment. And I think that was exactly what the director was hoping for.

Together we are affecting the world and together as a society we need to fix it. Taking time in our lives to help the environment will make such a big difference. And we need to start taking responsibility of our actions. In order to sustain our existence on Earth, human beings need to start reducing the amount of pollution that we are creating in our day-to-day lives. We need to stop depending on technology so much and get back to the basics of human relationships. Finally, we need to start focusing on our future on Earth and protecting it, instead of abandoning it for something else. If human beings band together to protect Earth we might have a chance for a different outcome then the one depicted in Wall-E.

Did you Know?

The clip that we watched in L.A. today was called "Did you Know." It was a video that showed us a whole bunch of information about are world and the speed that technology is growing. It was amazing all the information they gave us. This video gave us a huge message about are future and was really eye opening. One of the statements that seemed unbelievable was that "India has more honor students than America has kids." That is incredible and is was hard to believe. Although this video was only about 5 minutes long, they said that 736 babies were born in the world. To me that shows how fast are world is growing and the amount of people who live on Earth. Technology had a huge part in this presentation. Much of are world depends on technology and with out it we wouldn't know how to run are lives. I believe that we are stuck in a world were nothing but technology matters.

=Freak the Mighty=

Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick May 3rd

Freak the Mighty seems like it is going to be a very interesting book, and after reading the first page and the back cover off it I think it will have a great lesson for us to learn. Max is a boy whose body is growing faster then his brain, but Freak on the other hand was full of brains but not very tall at all. I believe that they are going to work together and become a great team. Using they height and brains to be the best in the world. And after reading just the beginning of the whole story I already can’t wait to read the book. What do you think a hero is?

To me a hero is some one who puts his/her life in risk to save others. Most heroes that we see in movies or read about in books are people who are born with nothing. They are people born in poverty or with no family, but someway they find the strength to help others. I believe heroes exist in are world and they aren’t just make belief.

How do writers & authors portray heroes in literature? Most writers/authors see heroes the same way many of us see them. Heroes in books are usually people how care for others and who want to help people. Many characteristics of a hero would be strong, caring, brave, courageous, and sometimes even an idol to certain people.

Give examples of a hero in literature. What makes this person a hero? The first hero I think about when I refer to this question is Spiderman. Although he has special powers her still chooses to use them for the good. I think that many people would believe that Spiderman is a hero because of the things he does to help people, and the amount of time he puts into protecting his city. I believe that even if Spiderman didn’t have his powers and was just old Peter Parker he would still try his hardest to protect the people he loves and cares about.

Does max seem like a typical hero. Explain? Why or why not? To me max isn’t a hero. Although he doesn’t think of Freak as an outcast, and sees Freak as a boy just like everyone else should. I think that Max is just a boy and he really hasn’t done anything to make me believe he is special and that he is a hero. I think that later in the book Max might become a hero, but for right know I don’t think so.

May 19th Freak the Mighty

Strategy Response (Prediction) - I predicted that around Christmas something bad is going to happen to Maxes family. Since that title is "What Came Down The Chimney", and it is almost Christmas I think that Max might have something happen to him. I think that maybe Killer Kane is going to come and hurt Gram and Grim and then kidnap Max.

Question Response: Identify the examples of conflict in the story so far. Indicate the type of conflict. There has been many different types of conflicts in Freak the Mighty so far, but the most common is the conflict between Killer Kane and Max's family. This conflict would be classified as person vs. person. Killer Kane vs. society is also another conflict in the story. Max and Kevin are also a conflict in the story but their arguments are very rare. And of corse the conflict person vs self. Max is always questioning himself and he doesn't have very much self confidence which sometimes makes conflict.

May 28th Freak the Mighty

Strategy Response (Summary) - Killer Kane has kidnapped Max and taken him into hiding. With Loretta Lee's and Iggy's help they are hiding in the New Testaments. Killer Kane is trying with all his heart to brainwash Max into thinking he never killed his mother. And although Killer Kane probably does still love Max and want everything for him, I still believe he killed his wife. Killer Kane plan is to start a new life with Max, he is planning to get a car and travel around trying to find a nice place to start over. Well Killer Kane is searching for a car to help then escape he ties Max up in the basement of a burnt down building. But surprisingly Loretta and Iggy turn on Kenny and try their hardest to help Maxes get free. After Loretta frees Max from where he is tied up she goes to make a run for it and realizes that Killer Kane has his tight gripped fingers raped around her next. As she is strangling her Max is fighting against his dad telling him that he know he killed his mom and that he saw him do it. With all his strength he trys to convince his dad that what ever he tells him he wont believe. Suddenly Freak breaks through the window with a squirt gun full of soap, vinegar, and curry powder. And with one blast Killer Kane falls to the ground well rubbing his eyes in pain. Freak the Mighty then make a run for the door, breaking through the burnt down building. When the cops finally arrest Killer Kane and bring Loretta back to her feet Gram, Grim and the Fair Gwen coming running through the crowd of people.

Question Response - Does Max pass the test alone? Is he independent or is it "Freak the Mighty" who passes the test? Use evidence to support your paragraph. I believe that Freak the Mighty was the one who passed the test. Because although Freak was the one who sprayed the vinegar, soap, and curry powder into Killer Kane's eyes, making his think is eyes were burning up. Max was the one who confronted his father and had enough courage to tell his dad that he saw him kill his mom. So I think they both played a part in getting Killer Kane arrested.

May 31st Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick

The theme in Freak the Mighty's is that having confidence in yourself is the key to a good successful life. And if you don't have the