Icefall 01/15/15

Title: Icefall
Author: Matthew J. Kirby
Date: January 15,2015
Pages:0-
Prompt: List at least three problems the main character faced? Which was the most life

changing? Explain

The main character in my book is Solveig she is a the second daughter of one of the most ruthless king alive. This King also had another daughter and a son. The daughter named Asa is the most beautiful of all the lands. When ever her father wants to show someone his kingdom he shows his daughter and all are surprised at her beauty. The King also shows his son the next heir of his great kingdom. He always forgets his second daughter. He has to be reminded of the visitor about his second daughter because their is nothing special about her or so he believes.

The major conflict that Solveig is facing is that she and her siblings have to learn to live in the forage. The forge is a place meant to keep them save during the war. The forge is mainly to protect Asa the beauty of her fathers family. She is kept there because the war started because of her. Gunnlaug declared war on her father because he wouldn't give him her hand in marriage. Well back to the main point the major conflict with Solveig was that she needed to choose between becoming a skald or to not. This was very difficult for her because to become a skald you would need speak in front of a crowd of people and tell a story.Solveig was not very good at talking to a group of people. Then when she would talk to her family or friends and tell them a story. The thought she was great. That is why Alric (elder skald) decided to teach her how to better tell a story. From this she created a bond with him.

This takes us to her second conflict. The second is not as great as the first but it is also a major part of the book. In the book when Solveig was sleeping she had a dream, in the dream there were men that attacked the forge and took it over. There was also a wolf that would destroy the men that came to the forge but at a great cost she still didn't know. Then later as winter started to end she started to understand that her dream was coming true. At this moment Alric noticed that it was to they both had to keep an eye out for everyone. Especially since there was a traitor amongst them. As the story nears an end every thing in her dream has come true all that needs to happen is she needs to be saved by the wolf. Little did she know Alric was the wolf. He was also the one who gave up his life to save them. This hurt Solveig that Alric had to die to save  her and she had to come up with a story for him to tell others.

The last conflict is between her and Hake (the beserker.) Beserker are a group of people that are the strongest in all that land but they can also be uncontrollable. One night while they were dining a fight broke out between the other berserkers. It was so bad that Hake the leader of the berserkers and to step in and stop it. While he was stopping it the beserkergang (beserkergand- the beserker losses control of his body and has more strength then before. A.K.A-Hulk) When this happened Solveig new that he could hurt her bad but seh talked with him and called him down even with all the danger.

P.S. This book was one of the best I have read.

To Kill A Mockingbird: The movie or the book? #BookIsAlwaysBetter

1.  What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? Provide evidence with specific details.

I want to start of saying that that the movie was terrible, I don't want to say terrible but it wasn't the best. I imagined the movie being at least closer to the book but unfortunately that is not the case.It ended up to be way different.The actual case with Tom Robinson was great it stated the bases of the article and took enough time for it to be played, but they missed some key parts. What they missed was more important for the coming out of Boo Radley then the case.

When Boo Radley came out in the book to protect Jem and Scout he had another appearance when Scout was watching Miss Maudie's house burn down. She was watching it and didn't notice that Boo put a blanket around her until it was later revealed at her house. This ties in to another event in the story though, there first real feel of snow. Which explains why Miss Maudie's house burned down."Probably the flue in the kitchen. I kept a fire in there last night for my potted plants."  In the movie they didn't include either of these scenes. This was a Key part to the book because of Boo's first real appearance outside of his house.

For me this was a key part in the book and it disappointed me that they didn't show it in the movie. I would have really like to see Miss Maudie more and have the talk with Jem. Overall the movie wasn't as great as I thought it would be. Everyone knows the book is always better though so I shouldn't have put my hopes ups to high, but then again it was during school.






Comments: Citlalli, Jesus, Diego

Goals for 2015 By:Gustavo Guzman

My academic goal of 2015 is to get into a boarding school. At first my goal was to get a scholarship but now that I have the scholarship I can strive for something else. That something else is to go to a boarding school. The boarding school that I have chosen was The Huns. Which was my second goal(was to learn about a school). To get into a boarding school is a long process that I have already started but now I have to go to an interview with the school. Overall my goal is to learn as much as I can of the school so that I will be accepted and liked. If I do this it will help me in life to live better and have a family that I can care for in the future. 

My personal goal for 2015 is to compete and win a bronze or above medal for gymnastic. This is an important goal for me because then I will know I have improved from the previous year. To be more specific I would like to excel on the rings. The rings I believe is my strongest place to be in because since the beginning that have been pushing me there. Overall my personal goal is to improve in the rings. My second personal goal is to read all of the books my dad owns. This is important to me because then I can expand my word choice. The book that I most want to read is War and Peace By: Leo Tolstoy. Overall I want to read all my dads books to expand my word choice. 

To kill a Mockingbird 12/15/14

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Date: 12/20/14
Prompt: Describe the similarities and differences between the a character and you.

In this book the character that I believe I am more similar to is Jem. I believe me and Jem are similar because Jem was always curious about Boo. It is normal to be curious but sometimes you may take it out of had like looking through someones window to see how they look. I am kind of like Jem in a way be because I have always wondered what some things are and maybe even hurt myself doing it. Sometimes you need to hold back and let things reveal themselves when the time comes. Like when Boo saves them.

The differences between me and Jem are many, but the one that stood out to me is that he is always giving Scout some advice. I wouldn't be able to be him and help someone out when there in a tough situation. I never have anything to say to someone but once I leave I know what to say by that time there gone. He is kind of like a mini Atticus Finch. There are many more reasons why we aren't the same but I don't have enough time to explain them all.

In this book there are many characters that are similar to me and are different from me. I chose Jem because he is the closest to are age. I believe that all the characters from the story represent something though. The good the Bad or the hunter and the mockingbird. They all represent something. The one thing they all come back to is Society and how it can kill.

Found Poetry 12/07/14

Atticus is...
By: Gustavo Guzman

Atticus is a gentleman
He's a good boy,
A nigger lover
Deadest shot in Maycomb
know when to use a gun

Atticus is
A Mockingbird
It's a sin to kill a mockingbird

this is
real courage
Atticus is
real courage

courage is a man
It's when you know you're licked before you begin
but you begin anyway

this is
real courage
Atticus is
real courage

Atticus is
a mockingbird
and
It's a sin to kill a Mockingbird

"To Kill A Mocking Bird" By:Harper Lee/ Alter Egos and Foils

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

By:Harper Lee

Prompt: Characters who reflect aspects of Scout's own character are known as alter egos. Those who are sharply different serve as foils. A careful study of these character relationships help to show the network of personalities in Maycomb and how they shape Scout's life.

This month my class has been reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" by: Harper Lee it has been a great experience reading this book. Normally I wouldn't pick a book like this but it has taught me to be peaceful but also to be a gentlemen. I learned this from Aunt Alexandra and Atticus, they have many things uncommon ideas but also many common ideas. Aunt Alexandra is not liked by Jem and Scout mainly because when she first got there she told them "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. ". The problem was they thought that Calpurnia ( The maid) was a good enough feminine figure. She is also different from Atticus because she has Maycombs usual disease (to have racial thoughts)  but Atticus doesn't have the usual disease. We know this because he is fighting for Tom Robinson even though he is of colored race. Lastly they are different because of the way they treat more needy people. Atticus will help the more needy if they need his help even if he will only get paid in food. Aunt Alexandra doesn't want Scout or Jem to play with Walter because he is really poor and they should be see hanging around him. "She took off her glasses and stared at me. "I'll tell you why," she said. "Because—he—is—trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what."On the other hand Atticus belives everyone is the same.

Aunt Alexandra and Atticus are almost completely different from each  other but they are also very similar. Aunt Alexandra moved to Maycomb to be with the family so she could be a feminine figure for scout and also so she could help them out. This tells me that she moved for the better of the family , Atticus also has taking care of the Jem and Scout in his mind. He has been there as there father but he has also been there to teach them a little bit about life and how to get through it. This tells me they are similar because they both want the best for Jem an Scout whether its to be a father figure or a mother figure. They are also similar because they both want to uphold the family name just in different ways. Atticus wants to do it by doing what he believes is right and believing people will follow in his foot steps. Aunt Alexandra on the other hand wants the family to act like a gentlemen and lady like. Even if it means hurting other people that Jem and Scout are good friends with.

Aunt Alexandra and Atticus have different relationships with Scout. Aunt Alexandra is a foil there are an enormous amount of reasons why she is a foil. One of the reasons she is a foil is because she is a very well dressed and popular woman. Scout is completely the opposite, scout is a person who dresses how ever she likes whether people like it or not. She also is not that popular because she doesn't usually talk to new people but she speaks out for others. The second reason how she is a foil is because she is a very demanding person she would like things to go her way. Scout is different then her though she is more lenient and believes in being free. This brings us to Atticus the alter ego, I mainly believe he is the alter ego because of three connections I made with them. First Atticus and Scout both like to read from reading Atticus and Scout get to bond more especially since in Scouts grade they can read together. Second Atticus has taught hear to love others and care for others even if they aren't the same race. " . . If I didn't take this case then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem.". This tells me that scout knows just how to act and not to catch Maycombs disease. Lastly Atticus has just influenced  Scout in a way that will help her in life and help her be more equal to others.

Why Does it look like Maycomb, Alabama?

Alabama

Observation: First of all I see the houses one of the houses has a dirt ground but the other seems like it has grass. I see the side walk and to kids playing by it which both seem to be white. A car parked in front of one also the trees which have been a big part in to kill a mockingbird. Lastly i see screens on the doors and in the back a little shed.

Inferences: From the picture I got a lot of inferences first the two kids playing seem to be riding some toy of theres which tells me that they must be a little older then 4. From the houses I could tell they don't have much grass which tells me that maybe grass cant survive there. On the other house I see a little grass which tells e that it is a little more taken care of. The car parked in front of the house tells me that t the people that have the car may have more money because cars cost a little more money. I also see the trees but the leaves seem to have fallen so this tells me it is fall. Lastly the shed in the back tells me that there might be tools to help the the ground.

Questions: Is the street pavement? Why are the screens of the doors closed are they sick? What are the kids playing?

Could it be Maycomb County, Alabama?

I believe it could be Maycomb County because there are trees and there may be one with a knot in it. There are also houses and one of them could be Scouts because of the ground the other could be Miss Atkinson. It could be hers because of the ground it looks more well kept. There are also screens on the doors so this tells me that they may have it pen when they aren't sick. Lastly there are kids playing outside and they may play the same games as Scout and Je
m.