Schooled (Pretty much everyone is doing this book) 1/29/98 *Spoilers yo*

Pages read: 100 something-end
Prompt: Describe Major conflict.

     I think the major conflict was Capricorn trying to get used to the real world. That's pretty much what the whole book revolves around. In the beginning he was wearing different clothing that the other students found weird so they picked on him. When Zack and his goons started messing with Cap he was taking it seriously. Then he started doing Tai Chi on the lawn, Sophie (the daughter of the social worker who took Cap in) doused him in water so he started doing it further away. He didn't know how checks worked so he continued to spend the school's money on charities.

     Another conflict is Sophie and her dad. Not really talking about in the book, like thinking ahead. What's going to happen? In the book he remained to be the father who came and went. He got her hopes up and then he just left "breaking" her, as said in the book. So when or if he comes back I'm making the inference that they start fighting. Maybe Sophie brings up how he lied and he counters with he just wanted her to be happy. I don't know, but there may be drama.

     The climax/turning point conflict was when Hugh and Zack teamed up against Cap. He became popular and loved, which neither of them liked or wanted. Hugh dressed him up in the opposing school's football team uniform. This is when Darryl gets more developed. He feels bad and decides to stop being one of Zack's goons. He's like, "This is whack yo!" then Zack's all like "No man you're whack" then Darryl attempted to punch Zack and mistakingly hit Capricorn. Where later he went back to Garland with Rain. Which then unfolded a lot of conflict from Capricorn's past actions *cough* checks *cough*.

sentences about other people's opinions: Athziry, Diego, Maria

Schooled 1/22/98

Prompt: Dates Read
Pages Read: 0-116

    Capricorn Anderson has never been out of his little closed off community named Garland. The whole conflict begins when Rain falls off of a plum tree and hurts her hip. He then tries driving her to the hospital. He gets pulled over then taken to a social worker. The social worker invites him to her house and enrolls him into public middle school. The first month or two was just him getting used to his surroundings. Hugh Winkleman became his best friend and kind of felt bad that he felt good that Cap was the one being bullied.

     It's explained that Hugh was the original that was always picked on and that Cap was the new target. Also Sophie, the social worker's daughter, started getting more friendlier towards Cap. It was boosted when Cap gave her driving lessons. After a while of getting picked on at school, something happens, the bus driver has a heart attack and Cap drives the bus to a hospital.

     After the whole bus hijack thing and Cap getting taken away by the police, he became a hero to the people. A lot of people were asking a bunch of questions. Naomi, a girl who's started to show interest in Capricorn, asked to join him in his Tai Chi lessons. He started leading a bunch of stuff and even got a whole period where he taught students how to tie-dye their shirts. He then got a checkbook for the school account for the Halloween Party planning. He starts using it on other stuff like charities and even gives fellow students who are supposedly running a marathon a thousand dollars. Zach starts talking to Hugh about backstabbing Cap and that's as far as I got.

Movie VS Book TKAM

Prompt: How would you prove or disprove that one version of To Kill A Mockingbird is more affective in delivering its message than the other? Be sure to provide specific pieces of evidence to support your opinion. 

Does the movie's message hold up to the book's?

     I think that the movie did good with portraying the book's message. Although the movie did leave out many supporting/important scenes. Like Calpurnia taking the kids to church, the whole part with their Aunt and Uncle, and Miss Maudie's house burning down. Speaking of Calpurnia, she is not included that much in the film. She only had some lines and didn't even go with Atticus to confront Helen about her husband's death. They also skipped out on the whole lesson Jem learned with Miss Dubose. 

     Some of the events listed above are important. Like Calpurnia, when she took the kids to church, they saw the people's conditions. They gained a sort of empathy if you will for them. They also found out a little bit more of how Calpurnia had to act in society, how she wouldn't fit in if she spoke proper english. After the whole event with Francis and pressure from school, she explains why she wanted to fight them. She didn't want Atticus to be called a n-word lover. He explains that it doesn't bother him, so it shouldn't bother her. It's here that we find out more about Atticus' characteristics/morals. The fire at Miss Maudie's house helped keep Boo relevant/mysterious. 

     Even though the scenes not shown or made were kind of important, they were mostly foreshadowing and/or supporting something else. Like some of the scenes cut out helped show the reader figure out Atticus' morals and characteristics. Also, the house fire was foreshadowing towards Boo possibly being important or maybe that he does something to help the children. Which some of the scenes left out did help portray the message better, the movie was good at portraying the message overall.     

Comments: Citlalli, Steven, and Nik

     

Choose your own adventure 1/8/1998

Prompt: When's the last time you ever did something for the first time?

     The last time I ever did something for the first time was zip-lining. The event occurred over Summer. I was at this vacation home thingy with family and we decided to go to a zip-lining warehouse. I was a little anxious at first, like when you're going next to ride a roller coaster and the people's screams start getting to you. Then you're like, "Where's the exit!". But anyway, I enjoyed the experience and learned to try and overcome anxiousness or fear.

     Another thing was going to a different state I don't know how many years ago. I went to Florida to, you guessed it, Disney world. we stayed for a week and that was my first time leaving Illinois. There was one more recent going to Georgia like 3 or 4 years ago. I stayed for 3-4 days. 

First blog of 2015 Woo!

To Kill a MockingBird 12/19/14

Prompt: Are these characters realistic?

     I think that Boo Radley isn't very realistic. There may bee people that have not seen the sun or are as pale as him, but it's not really normal. Also, for his age he should've left the househe's probably like in his young adult years. 17 or 18. Nathan Radley could not have kept him in there. If he was out then, why does he come back? Is it because of no shelter or no place to go?

     As humble as Atticus is, I think he was too optimistic. He would have at least expressed his hate some way. Maybe it just wasn't mentioned in the book. But getting spit on and just taking the name calling. I tink he would've broke. Like Jem did with Miss Dubose. Not exactly as destructive, but in some way, shape, or form. Atticus was brave and courageous, I think he was a little too against human nature. He's humble so he won't brag or show off his shooting skills. Whihc is understandable, but still human nature is loving to show off. Which was pretty easy not to do because of Atticus' morals. He could be realistic because some people were like Atticus, so it depends on any comparisons.

     Calpurnia, although it was a very rare thing to have a black person be articulate Calpurnia was. It was out of the normal, but she seemed pretty realistic. Although going back to Attcius, I don't think a regular man would accept their cook as a part of their family in the South. But, it's possible. Calpurnia acted as a motherly figure, she dressed the children, fed them, and sometimes gave advice. So overall, she was pretty realistic given the circumstances. 

Found Poetry

Gun in his hand

Atticus is

The bravest man

with real courage

the humblest

"You know you're licked before you begin,

you begin anyways"

"you never really understand someone

until you climb inside of their skin"

He always said.

He held his head up,

and kept his fists down

"unfair advantage over living things...

...won't shoot till' he had to"

he put his gun down

     This poem is about Atticus' bravery. The phrases show his bravery/courage. How he's humble and his phrases. Like "You know you're licked before you begin, you begin anyways". Also, how he's not quick to fight, he doesn't want violence. Like how he would shoot unless he had to because his gift was an unfair advantage over other living things. 

To Kill a Mockingjay: Week of 12/1/1997

Prompt:
5- Aunt Alexandra and Atticus
d. Effect on Scout
Chapters: 9-12

     Atticus has a very big effect/influence on Scout. First of all, Jem and Scout call their Father Atticus instead of saying dad. Also, Scout respects him. He told her not to fight anybody and she didn't, she tried her best to not to and didn't to keep her promise to Atticus. “Doesn’t come up to scratch half the time but she tries. She knows I know she tries." This quote is from Atticus' conversation with Uncle Jack. Which is that Atticus knows that Scout's trying her best. 

     Aunt Alexandra may have a negative effect on Scout. Their personalities are very different and Alexandra just decides what's best for her. Alexandra even tries to get rid of Calpurnia. But, Atticus doesn't allow that to happen because he believes she's part of the family and even raised the children very good. Also, Scout said that usually anything that Atticus' sister does, was her own choice she made and usually no one opposed. “We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence.” This quote is from Alexandra, she says this to Scout when she asks why she was at their house.

     I think that Aunt Alexandra is going to have a bad effect on Scout. She takes over too much. Alexandra is too bossy and thinks whatever is good for her, is good for everyone else. When Scout mentioned Calpurnia's church, and how she visited the Sunday Aunt Alexandra came, she became interested. "Cal said she'd come get me if you were off in the car. 'You may not.'" This quote is from Scout and Aunt Alexandra. Scout is explaining Calpurnia's offer, then Alexandra said, "You may not". These quotes are proof, Scout will possibly be more disobedient, she pretty much hates her Aunt. Scout will try to protect Atticus/obey him no matter what. She knows he's wise and she shouldn't trouble him too much. "I broke away from Jem and ran as fast as I could to Atticus." This quote is from Scout, when she runs up to Atticus' side because she "couldn't miss this". She wanted to help him/learn more about the situation. I feel like Atticus is the Alter ego of Aunt Alexandra. He's not as strict and the children respect. Scout doesn't Aunt Alexandra and disobeys her unless Atticus is there. Also she's a woman and he's a man. Atticus also doesn't care about how they dress, Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be ladylike and wear dresses instead of overall.