Remember Who You Are

  "I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free."

      

·           I really like this quote from Insurgent. Tris is basically saying she wants to remember where she belongs. She loved Dauntless because she could finally be herself and free. In Abnegation she was denied basic rights because it was selfish to think of yourself and not others. By keeping her Dauntless clothes she's trying to keep a piece of herself. I think this is a really positive message for people today. For example, choosing friends. You need to pick the people that you really connect with and with who you can be yourself. Someone who you would never get tired of. Some people my age pick their friends based on social status. If there is a girl who's 'perfect looking and popular', you'd most likely pick her over a 'nerdy' girl. But it seems like you have a lot in common with this nerdy girl. What happens when this seemingly perfect girl isn't so popular anymore? What if she makes a mistake and is now a so-called 'loser’? What was the point in choosing her over a person that could be a real friend? You need to pick the people that you would stand by in any circumstance because you like them and would never leave them.

     Anyways, back to this quote! This is showing how devoted Tris is to Dauntless. She looks to them as family and friends. She's so accustomed to them and their beliefs she's started to respect them. The way she feels about them is obvious pride. She likes the freedom and rush she gets with them: she isn't constricted and judged here. Everyone has a special place where they belong and it seems like this is hers.

How We Compare

"My mouth goes dry. No factions?  World in which no one knows who they are or where they fit? I can't even fathom it. I imagine only chaos and isolation."

     This isn't far from the truth. In today's world we have so many issues with other countries over power and knowledge. Without having all of the factions there's an unbalanced system. It seems as if Erudite is taking control considering they have both of these things. If we were all equal now, we wouldn't be having wars and conflicts with others. I think that there will never be a perfect society and now Tris is seeing that what she thought was perfect, isn't. What she thinks is a place of chaos, is the way we run our world. I think the only 'faction' we have is the factionless. There are plenty of places that don't have food and are surviving off the bare minimum. Everywhere has problems especially in the case of trying to run everything how people want it.
     If Tris lived without factions I think she would have a lot less stress. She's so worried about being Divergent because they are targeted more than anyone else. If she was in today's world she would be a lot less cautious. Obviously they haven't had to live in any other system of power considering she acts like she'll pass out if factions were revoked. It's interesting how we get so used to how our government runs we feel bad for places that have a different system. For example we have a democracy and we learn about how fantastic our government is. Also how other forms of government have too many flaws to be for us. That's how Tris is judging a world with no factions.

Insurgent

     I just started reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I finished reading Divergent about a month ago and then decided to see the movie. The movie was amazing! Although it was missing some of the main scenes from the book. It isn't that surprising considering most movies leave out major detail. Anyways the first book ended on a cliffhanger. 
Tris says, "We won't be able to stay long." 
To which Tobias responds, "No, we won't."
     When the author left that to be the last couple of sentences, it intrigued the reader enough to want to read the next book. Also I wanted to see if they would stay in the safe house or not. I assume they will considering there is nowhere else to go. So mainly I started reading the second book in the series because the first one was interesting and creative. I want to see if Tobias and Tris stay together or break up. They are the best part I'd have to say. Hopefully this book reaches the high expectations made from Divergent. We will see. We will see.

Here's a link to see reviews for Insuregent:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent

Krista Ramsey

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     “We’re getting them ready for the workforce, even in third grade,” she says. “And as a third-grade teacher, I want them walking out the door ready – but I also want them walking out the door loving to read.” 

     This line is so important. It's showing that the teacher wants the students to succeed and gain life skills. She also wants them to enjoy what they're doing. Throughout the article you can tell the teacher really cares about her students and loves her job, but this statement really adds to that. Her uses of commas are showing the pauses she took. Those pauses were putting emphasis on what the teacher was saying. Her long sentences are also a good indicator she has a lot to say and that can lead to show her feelings about the students and reading. The teacher also used 'loving' to describe the feelings she wants her students to have when reading. Ramsey incorporates all of those aspects into her article.( http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/03/15/krista-ramsey-third-grade-reading-guarantee/6475723/ ) 

     When looking through Ramsey's articles, I noticed a pattern. Most of them are advice or everyday living. But some thing I noticed was her endings all included what the title was saying. She had the titles as the conclusions. For example in, For better vision, kids need time outdoors, Ramsey says, "But researchers like Clark and Zadnik say balancing screen time with active time outdoors isn’t just good for young peoples’ waistlines and social skills, it’s also likely good for their eyes." This shows that part of the ending included what the title was saying. So she summarized what her article was about with evidence. In, Super Bowl QBs score points for great style, she says, "If we need inspiration, we have only to watch Wilson or Manning as they board the plane to head home from the Super Bowl. Whatever the score of the game, they’ll both look like winners." The original idea brought from the title, that the quarterbacks have great style, was brought back at the end by saying "Whatever the score of the game, they'll both look like winners."  Lastly, in, Reading teacher wants students to pass test, love books, she quotes, "And as a third-grade teacher, I want them walking out the door ready – but I also want them walking out the door loving to read.”  She brought the idea of loving books from the title and put it into the ending/conclusion of her article. All articles gave examples of how she writes.

     In my opinion; I love her articles. The ones I’ve read have meaning and aren’t random stories about celebrity drama. Her articles can give you insight or advice on what she’s talking about. Once you’ve read her columns you will surely agree.

Some questions I would ask:

What made you want to write this type of column? Have you ever wanted to branch out into other styles?

Do you just write about things you randomly hear or do people help give you ideas to write about?

What’s the best part about writing columns?

Half Missing

"A part of me is now missing. I fear its permanece. I am only half a person without Holly. Can half of a person survive?"


     I've just started reading a book called, "This Much is True". So far these twins, Tally and Holly, are complete opposites. Tally is the rebellious teenager who gets in to trouble all the time with her parents. Holly is the kind and responsible child. They both love each other dearly though they don't show it. So the time is February 14th, and you know what that means. Holly has a boyfriend whom with she just had a fall out with. But now Tally is driving her over to his house so she can confess her undying love for him. Apparently they're back together (or will be). But what happens is completely and utterly shocking. A car hits them on the highway. Tally wakes up to Holly telling her to get out. So that's what she does. A random stranger picks her disoriented body up and carries her away. She tells him to get Holly, but as you can assume, Holly is already gone. Dead.

     When I read this I started to get incredibly emotional. I have 3 older sisters and I couldn't even imagine having to deal with one of their deaths. For Tally to lose a twin, one whom with she's spent the last 17 years with, being inseparable; I can't even fathom. The quote above is Tally's thoughts after the death. She's numb. She doesn't see life without Holly. Twins have a much stronger connection with each other because they do everything together. I predict that since they were closer than the normal siblings, it'll take a lot more time for Tally to recover. She won't necessarily fully recover; but she will try. I believe she needs to start believing in herself and not wish that she had taken her sisters place.

Keep an Open Mind

     There's always that one good or bad thing in every book. Some books don't have any good things. Some don't have any bad. My book was mostly good. Think Big by Ben Carson. Throughout the story he's recalling his personal life events and putting it into a lesson. The lesson is just what the title states, Think Big. But each letter stands for a lesson you should carry on in life.

T= Talent

H= Honesty

I= Insight

N= Nice

K= Knowledge

B= Books

I= In-depth Knowledge

G= God

     Some times in life we come across struggles that make us want to give up. But this book tries to walk you through your problems and follow the simple steps shown above. Ben has been through multiple struggles, like coming from a poor area, never having what other kids do, and being underestimated. But through his issue he came up with the saying above, and it helped him. This was probably the best advice I've heard in a while; especially from some one I've never met before. I think that everyone needs to read more to become successful. Maybe if you keep this in mind, your life could change, just like Ben's.

Dive into Divergent

     Abnegation the selfless, Dauntless the brave, Erudite the intelligent, Candor the honest, and Amity the peaceful. Which would you choose? Would you stay in the one you've known your whole life? Or would you branch out to something better or possibly worse? Beatrice Prior has a huge decision to make since she’s 16 years old now. She has to decide the fate of the rest of her life. With her strange test results, she decides to pick the most surprising faction of all. Here she has to jump on trains and leap into a big hole to be initiated. People here have to fight to stay in the rankings, or they'll be faction less. But this is a whole new world for her. She can look at herself in the mirror without having to worry about being selfish. She can get tattoos and fight people without having a second thought. But what will happen when a war rises and she's in the middle of it? Will she follow through with orders? Faction over blood?  I think this book is a 9/10. It engages the reader every chapter! Especially with an added love interest no one would suspect. To learn more, read Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Think Big

     Thrown into a new school, new people, and new challenges; Ben Carson faces trouble adapting to his surroundings. A few months ago he moved from Boston and is beginning fifth grade at Higgins Elementary School. He'd be what you'd call 'stupid' or an 'idiot'. He just couldn't comprehend what was being taught since his former teacher was more interested in talking to her coworkers. So obviously when he got to this school he was behind the other kids. The worst part was that he just got his report card. He doesn't want his mom to see his embarrassing grades. When she sees them, she asks if those were his grades. Ben nonchalantly replies, "Oh, yeah, but you know, it doesn't mean much." This frustrates her, just like any other parent, because she knows he has the brains; he just needs to try. She sighs, "Education is the only way you're ever going to escape poverty. It's the only way you're ever going to get ahead in life and be successful." After she says this, she tells him he has to read two books a week and only watch 2 TV programs a week.
     When I read that I felt bad for him. I can't even imagine only watching TV twice a week! I think it's mostly just because in this time, technology is taking over our lives and making us lazier. Once I kept reading, the book said Ben was getting smarter. He knew what the teacher was talking about when no one else in the class did. His mom's rules really helped him excel faster than his classmates. He would always share his knowledge to the class any chance he got. I don't think he realized that he sounded as if he was bragging. Bragging is usually just annoying and sends people in the opposite direction. Bruce Lee once said, "Knowledge is power, but character respect." Knowledge is acquired by learning, but character respect is earned by the way you go about your learning. I don't believe that Ben went about it the right way; his classmates would agree.