Free Choice Blog 05.08

The Book I am reading now is called Slam.

Summary: The book is about a boy whose name is Gregory, but is nicknamed Slam from the way he plays basketball. His mother is hard working, his little brother experiences to be just like him and his father is alcoholic. He is trying to get use to this new school he just transferred to. It’s nothing like his old school. He is use to things being given to him because he stood out at his old school. But the school he goes to now is more advanced; he isn’t the only one in the spotlight so he has to really put in an effort to receive the same credit he did at the other school. The boy isn’t doing well in school but doesn’t really want a tutor and gets mad at his mom for getting him one anyway. If he doesn’t improve his grades he can’t play basketball. My personal reaction to this was amused. Although the boy may not want a tutor because he feels he can do it on his own, getting a little help won’t hurt. Besides if I loved basketball as much as he did I would want and do anything to keep my grades up so that I could play. I think the author’s intent was to inform us on a real life story. Give us readers something we can relate to because a lot of people get in activities they have to get good grades to be in. The organizational pattern was cause and effect, also compare and contrast. The boy is always comparing his old school to his new school. And one cause and effect for example would be, because the boy doesn’t make good grades he has to get a tutor.

04.08 Free Choice Blog

We’ve finished the book in my English class. The Crucible’ by Arthur miller.

Summary:  The story was really good. I think I like it most because the people and events that took place back then I could relate to them now. For instance, in the book the wife of John Proctor (Elizabeth) new her husband cheated on her and of course it hurt her, but if she would tell anyone or admit to it then he would be sent to jail. She loved him so much that she lied when they asked her in court if her husband cheated. I have done the same. I have lied for someone before because I love them enough to deal with the problem myself rather than put it in society’s hands. The organizational pattern that I identified in this story was chronological order and cause and effect. For example because Elizabeth lied for her husband trying to save him not knowing he already admitted to cheating on her, she too was sent to jail for lying. My personal reaction to this was admiration with that I feel that they both did the right thing. Them trying to save each caused them both to be in jail but that’s how strong and real their love is. And it’s so realistic to me because I experienced that type of love before; where you would do any and everything to save your loved one despite what may happen to you. However the girls never admitted to making the whole story about witch craft up which resulted in many innocent people being hanged, including john proctor. His wife was safe from hanging for now because she is pregnant. But who knows after she gives birth they might just hang her too. I believe the author's intent was to inform us on how society shuns people and with this true story from back in the day and also to entertain us with this play.

The Crucible

I am still reading the book the crucible in my English class. We are almost finished. This book reminds me so much of things that are happening today in real life. Even the story is very old it is similar to today's society.

Summary: We've gotten to the point in the book were the guilt is actually eating these people alive. The man John Proctor for instant had an affair with one of the girls that are screaming witch craft is taking place in the village. His wife knows that he cheated on her but no one else knows. She knows that if she says anything her husband can go to jail for adultery and she loves him way too much to do that. Besides she kind of blames herself. She says she was ill at the time, and wasn’t taken very good care of her husband. If I were his wife I wouldn’t blame myself because when you get married you vowel to be there and to be true to your spouse, in sickness and in health. However I wouldn’t have the heart to send him to jail either. Meanwhile the mistress Abigail was one of the many girls caught in the woods dancing around the fire and the girl John had an affair with. She is so eager to get John back that she continues this lie about witch craft and a lot of the villagers seeing the devil, causing half of the people to be thrown in jail, waiting to pled their case in court. John can tell the village why she is making these lies up and so can Abigail. But right now they are both thinking about their own repetitions, while everyone else is suffering.