Synthesis page "Running the Risk"

The protagonist fells that the money isn't worth as much as his and his coworkers lives.

The protagonist is not very shaken from the robbery as the police and his parents would have expected.

Cameron the protagonist's coworker is mad at the protagonist for not pusging the silent alarm as soon as the robbers pulled their guns, this caused the protagonist to question how he delt with the situation.

The protagonist also feels that he should not be shaken by the robbery due to the fact that he did the right thing of handing over the money instead of themselves to the hospital or possibly the funeral parlor

"Rules of Survival"

In my book the rules of survival the protagonist is not only physically abused but mentally and emotionally abused as well, by his very own mother. The protagonist's mothers consistently changing personality is also an attribute to why the protagonist is so emotionally shaken. Never knowing what to expect.
     The protagonist doesn't directly say that he is emotionally shaken by his mothers day to day mood swings,  such as happy and cooking him dinner to 3am throwing chairs against a wall and cursing.  These sudden changes give the protagonist an emotional "whip lash". Even though this is not blatantly stated in the text it has been obviously "hinted out" by the author so far.
      The protagonist feels that his mother controls his freedom. He believes this because if his mother is happy he is happy and if she is not then he isn't either. The protagonist never feels truly happy do to the fact that he knows in a matter of minutes that happiness can become complete rage. The protagonist can only be happy to a certain exstent knowing that the reason for his mothers happiness is either " caused by cocaine or a new man". This effects the protagonist by him never feeling true, thorough happiness for himself or by himself.  Not having true happiness is effecting the protagonist tremendously.  Imagine your life without true happiness. Yes it is very unfortunate that an innocent child would have to grow up that way.
       The protagonist I notice is very confused which is another effect from the emotional whip lash that he endures daily. I notice tgis in the text when matt is worried abiut his mom when she is out late partying,  even though he knows when she gets back life will be hell again. This shows the protagonists quest to find a proper caretaker. He does not know whether he should or should not care for his mother, because at the end of the day it is the lady who brought him into this world.
       In conclusion this emotional form of whip lash is not good for anyone. And I am now learning as a result of this book how vital it is to have good parents.  And if a child doesn't what can happen. 

Synthesis page inquiry question

What really difficult or complexing happenings are occurring in the text?

The protagonist in my book speaks about how he dealt with daily beatings from his father.

The protagonist fealt that he was on a road to becoming a navy SEAL do to his early learning of how to ignore pain which he later on found useful as being a SEAL.

The protagonist learned to forgive his parents for his terrible up  bringing saying " it was the only way they knew how"

The protagonist learned how to use the negative energy of being beaten and took those lessons from it and turned them into a positive career.

The protagonist proved himself to be a strong person

Argument Essay for YA Fiction

     I believe there should be unlimited access to why a fiction young adult fiction, because teens should learn about life's potential challenges through literature.  Exposure to these dark themes might prevent teens from having to experience and make these mistakes in their own lives.

     Hiding these topics from teens doesn't educate them because they won't know important knowledge about serious topics that affect them and other teens around them.  For example, in the article teen fiction plots are darker and starker by William Porter says, "These darker books reflect what today's faster  maturing teens routinely see in their multimedia world.  Topics include suicide, disfigurement, mental illness, violence and terrorism."  But if these topics are routinely seen by teens in our media, what's wrong with them reading about them? 

     Reading about topics such as suicide, disfigurement, just to name a few, gives teens a better perspective on potential challenges they may face.  for example, in the article, "teen fiction plots are darker and starker" by William Porter, it says, "It takes fearful things and makes it approachable, Teens can explore these themes and use them to deal with issues in their own lives."

     Having knowledge about these themes expecially suicide, can help teens prevent these things from happening not only in their own lives but the lives around them.  The knowledge teens can learn from these themes can help insure kids know where and when they should get help.  Like in the article "Has young adult fiction become too dark" says, "Darkness isn't the enemy.  But ignorance always is."

     That being said, "ignorance is the enemy," why would we want our children to be ignorant?  That does not sound like a good thing to do to the future people who will be soon the people to run the country.

Synthesis Page

Steve doesn't see himself when he look in the mirror.

The author shows how jail isn't just losing freedom, but a lifestyle of paranoia and helplessness.

The author shows that Steve has no words that can explain how much he hates jail.

The author describes the jail as "this place" which is how Steve refers to jail.

Steve wonders if after he gets out of jail if he will look like himself again.

Teen Fiction plots are becoming darker and starker

In the article "Teen Fiction Plots Are Darker and Starker," by William Porter is about YA fiction and how YA fiction topics are becoming more and more dark and explicit.  The author William Porter uses a lot of "loaded Words" such as anorexic, disfigurement along with other words which makes the reader envision very horrific things.  The author's word choice provokes very uncomfortable and horrific type of emotion in the reader.  These emotions must not bother the teens because the author says these books have "gained popularity." the books as they become more and more popular include more profanity.  The author's  main concern is "who are the gatekeepers?"  "Does anyone monitor what the kids read?" The author comes to the conclusion that the librarians don't limit the content that kids read, they simply "tell them where it is."

Faithful Elephants

     In the story "Faithful Elephants" by Yukio Tsuchiya, Japan was at war with America.  Japan was fighting not only America but their own people and they didn't even know it. 

     When the army gave orders to the Ueno Zoo to poison all their dangerous animals to death, in the army's eyes, they just saw animals, but the trainers and zoo keepers saw more than that. They valued them as if they were their own children.  In the text it says, "All this while, the elephants' trainers loved them as if they were his own children," which showed what a loss the elephants were to the zoo.

     Poisoning the three elephants was very hard on the trainers.  It was as if they were poisoning their own family.  In the story it said "All the keepers could do was pace in front of the cage and moan, 'you poor, poor pitiful elephants.'"  The fact that the trainer was pacing in front of the cage really showed the trainer's emotions and that the trainer and the zoo were in a conflict of person versus self because they had to follow orders to kill the elephants, but as they had to follow through with the orders, it was simultaneously tearing their hearts apart.  But the conflict then becomes person versus society/war because in the text it said "Still clinging to the elephants, the trainer's raise their fists to the sky and implored stop the war!  Stop the war!  Stop all wars!"  

     But in the end, the trainers realized that the tragedy of having to kill the elephants made the once at war Japan seem so much more peaceful.  And they gained the life lesson of learning what peace truly is.

Future of Us

Over the summer, I read the future of by jay asher. And that was my favorite of all the books I chose over the summer. And it was about this teenage girl in high school named Emma, and her friend Josh who lives next door. And josh one day brings iver a disc containing the aol download,  which was new because computers were still very new  technology. And they come across this site called Facebook. And they see themselves and their friends fifteen years in the future. That causes Emma to want to change the way she does things in the present to change her life in the future, to try and craft it how she wants it. And she lands up never being happy with the changes, and towards the end realizes that she should worry about the present. And let the future workout itself. Which taught me as a reader to appreciate the present moment,  and enjoy things while they are there.

The stand by Steven king

In chapter 2 Jess gets frannie pregnant. When frannie tells jess he says " I won't run out in you" but he still doesn't sound too optimistic about the baby that is on its way.  Jess's reaction causes Frannie to doubt jess. Will Frannie and Jess actually be able to get over this shock and raise a child on top of it?

The stand by steven king

Stu's filling station has been wrecked by a disoriented sick person. Who wife and daughter are dead in the back seat, followed by a horrid smell. Is this a spreadable deadly disease or a case of food poisoning from a bad burger?

Amulet book 4

In Amulet the protagonist Emily, has had her wish granted to try and join the guardian council. But realizes that the council isnt what she thought it was, and if she looses in a batlle simaler to the hunger games she won't be killed but turned into stone for eternity.

Red pyramid

I currently finished reading red pyramid by rick riodan, which was overall very interesting book. That involved Egyptian backgrounds to all the characters,  such as the protagonist carter and his sister sadie. Along with incorperating  magic which made the staory very amusing.But also having a solid plot of adventure,  and  their family background. So overall a great book, and I highly recommend it.

Red Pyramid by Rick Riodan

In the book Red Pyramid by Rick Riodan, the protagonist Carter and his sister Sadie  begin to find a bit more about their father in a very dangerous life threatening, unexplainable situation. When their goes to view the Rosetta Stone (not the computer program) their dad lands up releasing some acient,evil,demons. when their father along with the demons vanish, sadie and her brother are left dumbfounded until  the FBI comes and takes Sadie and Carter to the grand parents house, and are ordered to be deported and are forced to leave in the remaining 24 hours from london. And now find themselves in the magical hands of their old forgotten uncle Ramos. And are now on a journey to retrieve their fathet from the spirits but the question remains how AND WHERE?

Amulet

Emily a navin are now in the lost city of cielis and are now at the hands of new characters. But the book is foreshadowing the new characters might need realize that emily and navin are not ready to hand them their fate to willingly. 

Amulet

In the book Amulet by kazu kibuishi, 2 years after tje tragic car accident that emily, her brother navin, and mother survived.  In the accident the father was trapped under the steering wheel and they watched as the car slid off the cliff killing the father. Consequently Emily and her mother, and brother Navin move to the great grandfather's desserted house, up in the country.  But they begin to hear strange noises, and Emily and Navin curious  about their great grandfather's mysterious disappearance, wanto find out whar really happened but find out a little more they wanted. When they find a hidden magical amulet necklace, and the necklace one night lights up and talks to Emily. And before they knowit their mother's life iin danger swallowed by an octopus like creature, and Emily and Navin begin their quest to save their mother's life.And use the power of the amulet necklace to erase that fateful accident that killed their father.

the road not taken by robert frost

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
  By Robert Frost                                                                                                       3/13/13


     In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, the protagonist is showing the time when you ht a fork in the road, and it is showing that the author is explaining the path you take in life is permanent and can "make all the difference." And says how the poet wishes he took another path.

     The poem also says, "Sorry I could not travel both," the supports the claim prior "The path you take in life can make all the differenct."  Because it really proves that once to choose a road and you go down you are on that road forever.

     The poet Robert Frost also gets a permanent feeling to the roads "making all the difference" when he says, "I doubted if I should ever come back" which happens to people when they say oh, I'll try that road later even though they know it's not really gonna happen.

     Towards the end this poem I realized connects to me and everyone else in the world when you have a big choice in lkife.  And the little twist and turns lead to a cross road.  And that is what Robert Frost was saying in this poem.

SODA BAN

Noah Sorensen                SODA BAN

2/9/13                                                                                          ELA

 

     The New York City soda ban is a ban stating that you cannot sell any sugary drink in a container more than 16 oz. in the city regulated restaurants.  But there are exceptions; such as if the drink contains at least 50% milk or milk substitute or the drink is sweetened by the consumer not the establishment.  But because most of the places that have these massive beverages aren’t city regulated, they are not affected.  All the ban is doing is inconveniencing the person, which isn’t enough to affect the obesity rates, which is why I oppose the ban.

     According to the article Sugar Wars by Veronica Megeral, 60% of people do not agree with this ban: as a result of a recent poll.  This just means people will start taking the extra walk or drive to 7/11 or their bodega, so much for the ban.  So what’s the point in the ban?  New York City Health Department studies show “More than half of American adults are obese.”  But what about increasing physical exercise rates, having better physical education classes, to burn the sugar because people access to sugar even after the ban will be passed is still too easy.

     Another of the many reasons 60% of New Yorkers including I do not believe in the ban because “By imposing this ban, the board has shown no regard for public opinion or consequences to businesses in the city.  From the article Sugar Wars by Veronica Mejeral, this is absolutely correct because the board and people who believe in the vote are 40% of New Yorkers.  Obviously outvoted by the 60% opposing.  But what about the businesses that used to sell these things and make good profit are going to struggle, that’s if they’re city regulated.  But most importantly out of all these reasons, one of the things so many people come and wish to come to America is for freedom.  And “This policy would restrict consumer’s freedom to buy beverages as they see fit,” said in article Sugar Wars by Veronica Majeral, which this ban is completely disregarding as a reason to not pass this ban.  Don’t you agree every little freedom we have in America makes America, America?

 

     Overall this ban is only inconveniencing the consumer and that alone is not enough to solve the problem.  The people who really want sugary drinks in large cups will get them.  Remember if there’s a will, there’s a way.

 

    

my side of the mountain

sam gribley is now made a tree house and i really enjoying the country life.buyt has missed a meal when he wasnt able to catch a fish, and he talks about how he has never felt such a morbid feeling of hunger, of how hungary he was then. but he gathered some leaves and berries which really quenched his hunger. And got another fishing rod together later to catch fish again. this showed sam along with many others who are curios about venturing out into the forest its not all candy and sunshine its rough, compared to people in the city who who go to their local pizza parlor and pick up a slice. which is a luxury taken for granted, which was same was used to doing, making forest life emerge into his other worries of survival.

My Side of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Sam Gribley's fathers family has a history of the kids in the family running away from home, but the kids always would come back. Which landed up being a change when Sam Gribley was born. Living in a crowded New york city apartment, seeking wide open ranges and the country life with fresh air. And his final destination is his great grandfathers beach where he plans to build a house for just him. And he has no source of communication to his family living in the city. Which so far in a great book, that shows how difficult it can be surviving in the forest as a child of his age. so far he has yet to reach his fathers beach. But will he ever get back into comunication with his family? will he survive th journey?

the life and times of an american icon

i am currently reading another biography of tupac's family life growing up, and in the book so far it was talking about how his mother and father got to his birth state of virginia. his mother like everyother african american mother of that time taking care of her kids. struggling to buy cloths, supplies for school, this struggle was also because of his father being a truck driver and not making much money. and to try and solve that problem, tupac's father tried to join the marines but was denied a spot due to having flat feet.  which with the build up of failure and discrimination got to his head, and he started to beat Tupac's mom afeni shakur. which made tupac and his mother flee to the bronx, and his rough life continued and progressively got worse there. the peolpe he involved himself with werent robbing because they felt like it, it was their way of life. that was the only way they new how to be, and they werent " hustlin" they were in real poverty. tupac would be made fun of everyday at school because of what he wore, and it wasnt because what he was wearing wasnt school it was because he literally wore rags. this book terully showed how hard his aswell as other peoples life can be. which really taught the lesson of being careful of how you judge people, and be appreciative of all the good things you have in life. this book i realy recommend to anyone who into rap, being that this book is written about the best rapper in the world

Tupac is Still Alive?

                                                         

    I'm currently reading the book "Cover Ups" by John E. Lewis and in the book he talks about conspericy theories about 9/11, Bush-Binladen connection.  Currently the chapter I'm reading is about Tupac Shakur.  It talks about how he supposedly died, when lots of people believe he is still alive for the following 3 reasons.

     The first reason is that Tupac was originally in a gun altercation, a year prior to being "shot Dead."  And in that altercation  Tupac was shot five times and survived. Then in a drive by shooting is what they thought killed him.  But it was all a plan to go into hiding for a quiet life, out of the limelight.

     Secondly, his album released earlier that year involved the name of this famous Italian philosopher that stated if you go into hiding you will decieve your enemy. Which was  biggie smalls who got shot by Tupac's gang, leading people to believe that Tupac's rival gang the Crips got revenge. Later lead a lot of people to  believe that his death was a hoax, with tupac knowing he would get shot sooner or later anyway and that he went into hiding.

     Finally just a few days before Tupac's death he released an album which was a big hit, and then one man decided to rerange the letters a they found a hidden message in the title that said "OK U think Im dead on the 7th well Im still alive."  Which made many people ask the question did Tupac really die a gangsters death? or did he really die?  Does he walk this earth unknown?  Well people believe he went into witness protection program making him unknown to anyone except who he tells. but there is a video wher you can clearly see his face, and he is getting into a 2002 ford mustang.when he supposedly died in 1996, which is 6 years after his "death".

     But does Tupac really still walk this earth?  And are there other reason he went into hiding?  But most importantly where is he?

Drums Girls and dangerous Pie

Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie

Author:  Jordan Sonnen Blitch


     At the beginning of drums girls and dangerous pie, the protagonist Steven Alper goes to middle school and is an bsessed drummer. And he always feels his brother is in the way, and never wants to do anything for his brother.Until his brother falls off a stool, when he was supposed to be watching him like his mother said and his brother fell off and was taking to the hospital diagnosed with cancer making an averagefamily go off the deep end, and had the mother and Jeffery running back and forth to the hospital leaving Steven and his dad neck deep in TV dinners and depression.

     And Steven stopped working and falling behind school work gave Steven alot of time feeling bad for himself.  Then realized that he was really guilty.  Just like when you wrestle your friend to prove your stronger and you hurt your friend and you just want to pause and undo that momment.  That was exactley how he felt.  And in the end realized that he should be a better bigger brother to Jeffrey because you never konw when something bad can happen to someone.  And when Steven Alper learned this he matured a lot, in the end briing the family closer together than before.  He also learned that he has to prioritize things that are more important like his brother comes befare a cute girl at school.