Post B6

"Part of growning up was learning not to be quite that honest- learning when it was better to lie, rather than hurt someone with the truth" (257).

I totally agree with this quote, and how sometimes it is better to lie to someone so that the truth does not hurt so bad. For example, I think it is better to tell someone that their outfit is really cute even if you don't think so than to tell them it is ugly, because then it will make them really happy cause they probably spent a lot of time getting ready that day. It's jsut one of the little things you say to people that make them happy, then you feel happy casue they are happy. The only thing is sometimes I would rather hear the flat out truth because then I know what to do right, instead of keep doing it wrong. But, I love when people say my outfit is cute even if they don't really like it it makes me happy.
Being in Lacy's position, with the so-called "perfect" son who passed a way and a kid who went to his school and shot a bunch a people, I think she needs to lie not only to Peter about how she might really wish Joey was still alive instead of him, but she has to lie to herself because if she really truely told herself all the things that have gone wrong, she might not be able to handle it. So, I think she is doing a good job of visiting Peter and writing him letters, even if she's jsut doing it to say she was.

Post A6

*Vocab*
1. trajectory (253): the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in its flight
2. guileless (258): free from guile; sincere; honest; straightforward; frank

*Figurative Language*
1. "It felt gummy, like wallpaper that hadn't been smoothed right" (253). This is an example of a simile because the author uses the word like to compare Josie's smile with wallpaper.
2. "...but Drew's words and the stupid guy in the movie trying to jump the bridge and the way the stars were pricking at her skin, like inoculations for a terminal disease, suddenly made her start to cry" (254). This is an example of a simile because she uses the word like to show how the stars felt like they were pricking at her skin.
3. "It was why Lacy came to these visits with a smile streched like a Halloween mask over her face..." (257). This is an example of a simile because She uses the word like to show how Lacy's smile was not as real as she wished it could be and how she really wants to just cry.

*Quote*
"Maybe something Josie believed that something she'd done-or hadn't- might have brought Peter to the point where he would have gone and shot his way through Sterling High" (267). The importance of this quote was that Alex is starting to realize how Josie feels about the situation, which could help or hurt her if she is the judge of the trial.

*Theme*
I think the theme that is going on is to be nice to everyone, because you never know what could happen one day if you are mean to them.

Post B5

Dear Josie,

Sometimes you confuse me a bit. I don't understand how you could be in a relationship with Matt, when he verbally and physically abuses you and takes advantage of you. It just doesn't seem like a good relationship. And personally I don't agree when he said that he makes you leave and pushes you because he loves you and doesn't want others to take you away from him. That is just terrible, and the fact that as soon as you kiss him you lose the memory of everything that he just did to you that would make you kiss him. And, sorry but I really don't like the fact that you had sex with him, first, on the side of the road, second, that you weren't even happy because you just had your own dad turn you away, and last aren't you a bit young? I also feel like he forced it, but maybe not, either way I just don't think it is a good idea. But, I guess if you really love him and that's what you want, go for it.
And, I think you really lead Peter on. One moment your really nice to him, then a "cool" kid strolls by and you're a completely different person. Maybe you and Peter are different, but you can't grow up with him and realize that you are too cool for him, because neither of you actually change, you think you do, but deep down you're the same person you always were and always will be. I just disagree with how you treat him and how Matt can beat him up and you just watch. And, of course I'm not saying what Peter did was good, hell it was the worst thing ever. But, what he did might of had to do with how you treated him, because he believed you were his friend. And, as soon as you were gone, he was to. It's not like this is your fault at all, but that's why I think people need to be nice to everyone because you never no what somebody is going to do to you or your friends.

Post A5

*Vocab*
1. stoically (197): seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
2. incumbent (199): holding an indicated position

*Figurative Language*
1. "Lewis and the boys filed into the room, standing against the wall like a police lineup" (196). This is an example of a simile because she uses like to show how they were standing in the room.
2. "Her cheeks pinkened ;her eyes leaped like the brightest part of a flame" (204). This is an example of a simile because she uses the word like to compare Josie's eyes with a flame.
3. "He pressed the Copy button, watched the machine begin to birth a hundred identical babies" (205). This is an example of personification because she gave the machine a human like feature by saying it was birthing the papers.

*Quote*
"When I told you I slipped on ice. Matt and I were having a fight and he hit me" (239). The importance of this quote is that Josie's boyfriend is abusive and Peter is the only one she told. I think that because Josie is able to open up to Peter a little that Peter still can appreciate her even though she left him. I also think it helped with the decision of him not killing her, but I don't know yet.

*Theme*
In this part of the book I think it goes back to the theme of keeping your old friends because they will always be ready for you to come back, and that they're always there for you no matter what you've done.

Post B4

Dear Jodi,

I am still in love with this book. Every chapter that I read get me more and more excited to read again and never put down the book. There are so many little things that I would not expect to happen, that do happen. But, right now I am a little confused about what Peter said to Jordan. "Those ten people-"
"Just got in the way," Peter said.
"Then who were you trying to kill?"
On the opposite side of the room, the air conditioner suddenly choked to life. Peter turned away. "Me," he said (194).
I don't get it because why did he have to go through so much planning then if all he wanted to do was kill himself? Why did he circle the names of those kids pictures that he killed? And, why then did he ask how many he got? It just doesn't make any sense that he would say he just wanted to kill himself. He could have just done it at home. Or, was he trying to make a seen. I'm just so confused. But I like being confused because it makes me wonder what will happen and how this can be used in the case. Right now, I don't think Peter is making a lot of sense, but a fair trial will be important to how he lives the rest of his life and what else he will do. And, I think people need to respect Jordan more for being his lawyer because somebody had to do it, it's the law. And, they should try being in his position as a parent with children who is representing a kid who murdered a bunch of kids. He is in the same boat with the concern of safety with his children and he wants everything to work out right also.

Post A4

*Vocab*
1. preside (190): to exercise management or control
2. inconsequential (190): not following from premises or evidence; illogical

*Figurative Language*
1. "Alex felt her face flame" (183). This is an example of a metaphor because her face did not actually catch on fire, it just became very warm.
2. "Without turning around to see her mother's face, Josie ran to the car, which gleamed like a sanctuary" (180). This is an example of a simile because it uses the word like to compare Alex's look on her face with a sanctuary.
3. "On the opposite side of the room, the air conditioner suddenly choked to life" (194). This is an example of personification because the author gave the s\air conditioner a human characteristic of choking.

*Quote*
"Those ten people-"
"Just got in the way," Peter said.
"Then who were you trying to kill?"
On the opposite side of the room, the air conditioner suddenly choked to life. Peter turned away. "Me," he said (194). The importance of this quote is that Peter admitted that he really just wanted to kill himself.

*Theme*
I think an emerging theme right now is to get involved with activities that contain a group of people that you could possibly enjoy being with because those peopel could end up being your friends.

A Civil Action

A Civil Action: The Game

To me, everything in life is a game. You give it all you got and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and every once in a while you tie. Some things take skill and others take luck. For example, you may brush your teeth two times everyday and you go to the dentist and find out you have three cavities, so that means you lost and the cavities won. Or let’s say you never brush your teeth, maybe once a week, and you go to the dentist and they tell you that you have perfect teeth, so that means you win, but you won with luck, not skill.

In the movie A Civil Action, it is just like a game for everyone. The families and community lost children that cannot be replaced. Not even a win in the court will bring their game back to a tie. Yet, the prosecutors and defendants are not there to lose or tie, they have to win for the money. But, what really makes me like this movie is when Jan Schlichtmann literally gives up everything in his business and personal life to get these families back in the game. He fights for them, instead of himself. He is no longer by himself, he is on a team. And, there is nothing better to me in the world than giving it all you got and being on a team you can trust and being able to do anything for them to survive the game. A Civil Action is a good movie because it shows how sometimes in life it is not just about winning the game, but it is about how you win it.

There were three characters in the movie that really took part in playing the game; Jan Schlichmann, played by John Travolta, Jerome Facher, played by Robert Duvall, and Judge Skinner, played by John Lithgow. John Travolta did an excellent job on portraying his character. He played the part of a male lawyer, which meant he had a serious character role to take. And so, he looked like a lawyer by the way he dressed and he acted like a lawyer by the way he spoke. The tone in his voice was all we needed from John to connect with him, whether we were against what he was doing or not. Also, Robert Duvall did a great job with becoming his character of Jerome Facher. His actions allowed us to know that he was a very weird man and that money was all he wanted. Lastly, John Lithgow was brilliant with the way he played Judge Skinner. He really showed how he is the most powerful one in the court and that what ever he says goes. But, what I think really helped these characters perform the way they did was the way they dressed. Travolta and Duvall were always wearing suits, which showed that they had a pretty high-class job, and it was important to them. And, of course, Lithgow wore a robe to play the part of a judge. I also think the glasses he wore helped because it made him seem really sophisticated and that he was always right. The way the characters acted and dressed really helped me feel like I was part of the movie and the game they were playing.

Throughout the movie there was a fantastic use of cinematic aspects of film. First at the beginning of the movie when there is blues’ music playing while Jan and his partners go get something to drink, shows that he has a good life and the game is going the way he wants at this point. Another example of cinematic aspects is a long shot where Jan is at the meeting with the people of the community who want him to fight the case. The distance makes it seem like he doesn’t care much about this case. But, what is ironic, through another use of cinematic aspects is when there is an extreme close-up of Jan cutting the chain off the fence from the factory. It shows that he is powerful and is will to do anything to help these families get the water clean. To him, this game wasn’t important; he thought it would do nothing to change him or his company. But, the use of the cinematic aspects really showed how much Jan wanted to win this game, not for the money, but for the families.

So, we read the book All My Sons by Arthur Miller and watched the movie A Civil Action, and they have a similar dilemma but they differ in how it is solved. The dilemma in both the book and the movie is that innocent people are being killed for unnecessary reasons. In the book, Joe Keller sends in bad parts to the army, which causes 21 men to die. And, in the movie, the factory is polluting the water, which is causing people to get sick. Joe decides not to tell anyone what he did until it had to come out and eventually killed himself for embarrassing his family. While Al Love, a man who worked at the factory, decided to speak out and tell the truth with what was going on. The problem for both of them was how do you win a game when you’re already behind? They both knew what they did was wrong; Joe just took it the wrong way and believed he lost and gave up. Where as, Al decided that he needed to not just get himself back in the game, but the families who lost children because of his job. Both the book and movie had a similar dilemma, but they were resolved in completely different ways.

I think this movie was fantastic and I strongly recommend it. The theme that emerges in the movie is to never stop playing the game. Because no matter how far you are behind, it’s never over and anything can happen for you to get right back in it. And, as one small game ends, another one is just beginning; it doesn’t stop until your life does. It can connect to anyone’s life, and I think it is a good moral to keep playing the game until the entire thing is over. This movie taught me a lesson, and I think it could do the same for anyone who sees it.

Post B3

Dear Jodi,

Oh my goodness. I'm so addicted to this book I don't even know what to say. It's so scary because I feel like it is just like my life. Like the events that happen to the characters in the book like 9/11 have happened to me also. No, I have never been in a school shooting, but how it happened in the story makes it feel like anything can happen and it's scary. It's exactly how high school is, you have your group of friends that your always with. You talk about things you like and do things you like. The friends you had in elementary or even middle school might no longer be a part of your life. Because things change and things happen. One day your part of the crowd that nobody likes, you look in the mirror and decide no more am I who they make fun of, I am one of them. You change to fit in, and you lose all the senses of what it was like to be who you used to be. Because to make yourself feel better, you have to make someone else feel worse. And that's what Peter went through, Josie left him because she realized that if she kept hanging out with him she would become him and would never belong. It's just like every school and it's scary how well you express this in your story. It's like you know me or something. It's crazy, but I love it and I can't wait to find out what happens.

Post A3

*Vocab*
1. embellish (158): to add ornamental or fictitious details to
2. furtively (149): taken, done, used, etc., by stealth; secret

*Figurative Language*
1. "...although Peter no longer came to her house and vice versa, they still hung out together in school, and he was the last person in the world Josie could imagine doing anything illegal" (152). This is an example of irony because it was said (thought about) six years before Peter actually did do something illegal when he killed people at school.
2. "...they seemed so fake sometimes that Josie thought if she poked one of them with a sharp pencil they'd burst like a balloon" (152). This is an example of a simile because the word like is used to show how fragile the girls are and if she did anything to them they would burst like a balloon.
3. "You can fell people staring; it's like heat that rises from the pavement during summer, like a poker in the small of your back" (161). This is an example of two similes because it uses like to compare the feeling of someone staring at you and how it gets to your head with little things that bug you.

*Quote*
"Josie stood up, backing away from him. "I'll see you around, Peter," she said, and she walked out of his life" (160). The importance of this quote is that as soon as Josie started putting on make-up and hanging around with different people she realized she was a different person and could no longer hang out with Peter.

*Theme*
I think an emerging theme in the book is that it's alright to make new friends and try new things, but you can't leave behind your old self and old friends because no matter what they are still there.

Post B2

"Whether or not you believe in Fate comes down to one thing: who you blame when something goes wrong. Do you think it's your fault- that if you'd tried better, or worked harder, it wouldn't have happened? Or you do you just chalk it up to circumstance?
I know people who'll hear about the people who died, and will say it was God's will. I know people who'll say it was bad luck. And then there's my personal favorite: They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time" (89).

OK, this quote is so cool. Because when I'm at hockey for example, when the game doesn't go well, I always think, what if I took that shot? Or what if I passed the puck faster? Could the game have gone our way if I didn't make that stupid mistake? Or wait, was it even my fault? It could have been someone else's fault. Usually for some reason I just accept the fact that it was my fault and become really crabby until I get over it, which takes some time. I wonder sometimes if it was supposed to happen like God had planned it or if I really made it happen myself, like I made the choice I wasn't supposed to make. But, I guess I will never really understand.
But, my mind changes when it comes to the fact that someone dies. I feel like it is God's Will when someone dies just because I feel like the people that do die to soon are always the people we don't want to leave. It is almost like we don't deserve someone like that because they are so good. Many disagree with my view, but I just think that people are taken at the right time and at the right place.

Post A2

*Vocab*
1. solace (99): comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble
2. inept (99): generally awkward or clumsy; haplessly incompetent

*Figurative Language*
1. "An arraignment at a courthouse fit like a Band-Aid over a wound that really needed a tourniquet" (114). This is a simile because it uses the word like to compare the arraignment and Band-Aid.
2. "Closure, apparently, meant that she was supposed to realize that losing a normal was something you got over, like losing a soccer game or a favorite T-shirt" (117). This is a simile because it uses the word like to compare closure with losing a soccer game or a T-shirt.
3. "You could divide by zero; it felt like a canyon where your heart used to be" (129). This is a simile because it uses like to compare a canyon with where your heart used to be.

*Quote*
"Everyone wants their kid to grow up and go to Harvard or be a quarterback for the Patriots. No one ever looks at their baby and thinks, Oh, I hope my kid grows up and becomes a freak. I hope he gets to school every day and prays he won't catch anyone's attention. But you know what? Kids grow up like that every single day" (136). The importance of this quote is that Peter is the one who said it and it's how he feels he grew up. He was known as the freak and he doesn't think his parents care, where as everybody else's parents want their kids to be perfect. And, it was hard for him to control himself after so many years of being picked on.

*Theme*
Another theme that is emerging is to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes because Peter wants people to know what it feels like to be him and how difficult it is.

Post B

Dear Jodi,

First of all, I fell in love with this book after the first chapter, which is amazing because I'm not a big reader, but when I love a book all I want to do is read, which is how exactly what this book does to me. There is a quote in the book that I feel relates completely with every child growing up. "I wish I could give you a better explanation, but the fact is, some kids are simply magnets for teasing. Other children see a weakness, and they exploit it" (72). This is exactly what happens in every school, there is no perfect school to prevent teasing, but yet there is no perfect person. So, why is it really necessary for one child to pick on another. Everyone knows as we get older that the kid that gets picked on like no tomorrow will one day come out and do whatever they need to do to prove to people they are someone they don't see. Now, how they express that is completely up to them, it could be just a simple conversation with them to tell them to stop, or the worst of the worst (which is what happened in your story), is for them to go on a shooting rampage at the school. Yes, it's entirely the child who shot the gun's fault, but the reason they picked the gun up in the first place was because of the kids who were picking on them. And, I think Peter should be punished, but he needs to be punished fairly, and I hope that the trial he is given is fair to him and the students of Sterling High.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Post A

*Vocab*
1. recidivism (32): a tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a pattern of criminal habits
2. cataclysmic (32): resulting from a violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change

*Figurative Language*
1. "By now, he'd turned tomato-red, his skin so and angry and soft that his soft fuzz hair glowed like platinum" (33). - This is a simile because it uses the word like to describe Peter's hair.
2. "My daughter has been coming over to your house for how long now, and you've got guns lying around" (81)?- This is an example of irony because when this happened Peter and Josie were only about 6 years old and Peter (the boy whose father owns the guns) is the one who was the shooter at the school.
3. "...the way the sun bounced off its snub yellow nose, the door hinged like the jaw of a dragon, the dramatic sighs when it came to a stop" (65). - This is an example of personification because the author is giving the bus characteristics of humans (or animals).

*Quote*
"I wish I could give you a better explanation, but the fact is, some kids are simply magnets for teasing. Other children see a weakness, and they exploit it" (72). The significance of this quote, I think, is the reason Peter Houghton decided to go and shoot kids in the school. Ever since the first day of kindergarten, Peter had been picked on constantly by other kids, he never really fit in.

*Theme*
I think an emerging theme of the book is to not pick on or make fun of kids because you never know what will happen the day they want to get back at you.

Where are the major threats to the environment?

Former President Jimmy Carter’s states in his article that unlike other political issues, politicians don’t always agree with other members of their political party when it comes to environmental issues. Both Republican and Democratic presidents have supported legislation protecting the environment. I agree with former President Carter’s opinion that there are a number of things that threaten our environment. I agree that we are causing our environment to change by allowing the build up of gases which keeps the earth warm, melts glaciers and makes water levels rise. This is called the “Greenhouse” effect. I am concerned about how the Greenhouse effect will impact animals like polar bears. I am also concerned that this will impact humans as well. According to President Carter, Presidents Bush and Clinton were both concerned about the Greenhouse effect. They both worked hard to try to reach an agreement with other countries like Germany and England to reduce Greenhouse gases. Over 100 different countries were involved in the agreement. However, the current President Bush does not think it is possible for the United States to meet the requirements of the agreement because the United States has energy problems and because it would cost too much money to comply with the agreement. President Carter states that Americans are interested in protecting our environment and that we are will to pay taxes to make sure we do protect our environment. He believes that our current President is ignoring the views of Americans and the hard work of Republicans and Democrats who want to protect the environment.

Morals and Ethics

1. What do you think of Swartz’s comment: “A business can do well and do good.” Explain.
2.Do we live in a cheating culture? Why or why not?

1. I think a business can do well by how its actually doing (economically) in the real world. And, I think a business can do good when it is doing what and how the owners want the business to be ran. Such as they are doing well with workers and their pay, instead of where if they are doing well with profits. Either way, whether the business is doing well or good, the outcome is usually leaving the owners and workers feel satisfied at where they are at with the business.

2. I think the definition of our culture is cheating. People cheat for everything and everybody knowns it. People cheat in school with tests and homework, people cheat in sports, maybe with spying or if it's not a high level starting a race before the whistle, or even our government cheats, such as when President Nixon with the Watergate scandal. It's almost like we are taught to cheat instead of just do it ourself from all the people around us. Do I think it's right? For me, it depends on the situation completely.

The Sea Inside

A Moving Tale

Happiness is not something we can just have, we have to want it. People do different things each day to get just one drop of happiness. Whether they are watching their kids smile, going swimming in the ocean, or eating a chocolate candy bar, that one drop of happiness can make their entire day change. But, for a man like Ramón Sampedro, his drop of happiness for one day would be to just die. He is paralyzed from the neck down and cannot stand it anymore of just sitting in the bed all day. However, since he cannot physically commit suicide himself, he has to go through court and try and get them to do it for him. A few topics emerge and project different themes to the audience, one being that we have the freedom of choice, but how far does freedom of choice go?

First, how does one give in opinion to a film that is so powerful? Whether or not someone liked the film, it does not mean that the movie was not effective. Maybe it was amazing because it got the message out to people in such a strong and sensitive way. But, it was not as good when it got to points that were so depressing. It gave out the message it was trying to give out, and is that not the point of a film? It expressed the pain Ramón, his friends, and his family had to go through day by day in order to keep him alive. Or for Ramón who was trying to end his life in order to finally be free. So, the effectiveness of this movie was definitely there.

In general, every film has literary aspects such as a plot, characters, setting, etc. In “The Sea Inside”, the story takes place in Spain near the ocean. The ocean is a major symbol in this film because the reason Ramón Sampedro lays still inside a bedroom of his sister-in-law’s, Manuela’s, home is because he jumped from a rock and hit his head on the ocean floor. The sea also represents freedom because when he he uses his imagination, the sea tends to be a place he goes. Manuela’s husband and son, Javi, and Ramón’s father also help take care of him. Rosa, who is a woman with two children, has no husband, and works in the canning factory, becomes interested in Ramón and goes to visit him quite often. Julia, is his lawyer and is determined to help Ramón get what he wants through the court. Even though all of these people are surrounding him with love him and want him to live, he sticks to his own word and still wants to die. Ramón should have the right to choose whether he wants to die or not, but with the laws in Spain, it is difficult for him to get what he wants.

In addition to literary aspects, the film obviously also had cinematic aspects. The photography in the movie varied completely. For example, an extreme close-up of Ramón’s eyes and then the camera zooms out to a close-up of his face to show his complete emotion when people are telling him what he can and cannot do. Also, the camera movement helped to put us in the film at times. Like when he was imagining he was flying and the camera was tracking in the sky like it was us who were flying. Most of the scenes were edited with cut-out or fade-out transitions. However, when the letter was being read, the scenes would dissolve into one another to give it a smooth flow. And, in the movie there was not a lot of music, but when it was playing it seemed to be soft and up-lifting. Even though it was in Spanish, the way the instruments played and the emotion in Ramón’s face helped expressed the inspiration coming from the film. With cinematic aspects added together with the literary aspects, it helped pull the movie together and make it easier to feel like we were there with them.

Clearly, Ramón Sampedro in the movie “The Sea Inside” can relate and differ from Jean- Dominique Bauby’s “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”. One way they relate is that they are both trapped, and they know that there is nothing they can do about it. But, in a way that they differ is how trapped they are. Ramón can speak, move his head, and hear well, where as Jean can only blink his eye and can barely hear at all. It is weird to think though that in the movie Ramón expresses how he wanted to die more than anything, and in the book Jean did not really say much about wanting to die. Jean was giving up, but he never officially had. Also, the book was more about Jean’s past life instead of himself in the present. When, in the movie it was mostly all about Ramón’s life at the time. Movie’s and books can be similar and can differ, but it is our choice on which one we prefer that connects us better to the main character(s).

In conclusion, this film is a great one for people to see. It really shows the characters emotions and allows us to be part of the film. The only minor problem with it is that it is in Spanish, so we have to read subtitles. But, with it being in a different language it allows us to connect to people from different backgrounds and see how they handle these types of situations and compare it to ours. In Ramón’s view, it helps us see the difficulties of not being able to move and to die would give him the freedom to live again. And, in his family’s view, for him to stay alive to show all of the love they have for him. There is no doubt losing somebody is a hard thing, especially when it’s suicide. But, think how much people, who cannot move a single finger, would be better off when they are doing what they ever want in a better place where they can just be free.

Post B5

Dear Alice,

Wow! I finished your book and I am truly amazed at how everything worked out between the trial, family, and friends. I am so so so so so so happy that you won the trial. I don't understand in any way how he could not have been charged. Just because you got him wrong in the lineup, doesn't mean it wasn't him. You knew it was between four and five but you were scared and picked the wrong one. I don't think I could have even faced him through a glass wall it would scare the living death out of me to see the man who raped me ever again. And, I know how bad rape is and it's a terrible thing to say this, but I feel like when you got raped it brought your family closer together. You said earlier in the book that your family was weird and did not have very much "family time", but now I feel like your always with them because they love you and are there to protect you. And, oh boy the boys!! You are getting around my friend, from one guy to the next! I think that is great for you to experience different types of men, even though a man is what hurt you. The worst thing I've ever read is in your book and the way Lila treats you after she got raped. First, you guys were best friends how could she no want you to be there to help her. That is just ridiculous. And, you know what it's like to be raped, you can help her understand it and win her case. Why she doesn't want to follow through with her case I don't get it. I just can't believe that she thinks it could be your fault, because someone wants revenge on you for winning the case. You got raped to, you didn't choose that and the last thing you needed was your best friend to get raped and never talk to you again. But, Alice I don't understand how you became a heroine user. It just doesn't make much sense. You don't need that, it's not necessary, yeah you went through a very rough time, but you held through when it was happening. It's almost like you gave up when you just about to reach the top again. Hope you are doing well now. I still have mixed feelings on the story, but it got through to me.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Post A5

*Vocab*
1. affidavit: a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official (197)
2. bolster: To support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion (201)

*Appeals*
1. "There were good men and bad, thinking men and muscle" (207). This is true people are built in different ways, however this is how Alice begin to categorize men in her mind because of what happened, making this an emotional appeal.

2. "I hadn't thought of him since entering the courtroom. I couldn't" (198). This would be an emotional appeal because Alice could not think of her father and how hard this situation must be for him, and not being in the room with his daughter even harder.

3. "My nightmares had never let Lila be raped. She and Mary Alice were safe. Lila was my clone, my friend, my sister" (217). This is a logical appeal because Lila was raped, but emotional because she didn't want Alice there to help her.

*Quote*
"They got him," he said joyfully. "Guilty on six counts. He was remanded to jail" (200)! The importance of this quote is so big! Alice won her trial putting Madison in jail. It almost seemed like she would never win, but she pushed through, gave it her all and won!

*Theme*
I would say that the theme at the end of the book is for sure change. People can change any day, minute, or even second. Alice changed from just a college girl, to a rape victim, to a heroine user. And, her old best friend Lila won't say a word to her, doesn't want her help because she might believe that it is partly Alice's fault. Meaning, that the reason she got raped was possibly for revenge on Alice for winning her trial.

Post B4

Dear Alice,
First off, I am so glad that you and Jamie hooked up. Even though it did not end up in a relationship like you wanted, I think it was good that you had the chance to have sex with out being forced and with someone you knew and liked.
Second, this trial is really confusing me. I think you are doing an excellent job of taking your time though and answering the questions truthfully and patiently. I don't know how you could say some of this to people, it is just so terrible and graphic. Especially when your parents are there, I don't think I could even tell my parents that happened to me, I would not want to bare the pain of seeing their reaction. But, I think you are very brave for telling them. Also, you are very brave for doing this trial and speaking in front of your rapist, and looked him in the eye, sometimes I wonder how you are able to get out of bed everyday.
Last, I'm still in the middle of the trial and I do not know what is going to happen to Madison, but I hope he gets put away for twenty-five, since he cannot be put away any longer even though I wish he went to jail for life. But good luck and best of wishes.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Post A4

*Vocab*
1. commemorates: to serve as a memorial or reminder of (163)
2. sustained: To keep in existence; maintain (190)

*Appeals*
1. "Not further into the park but- on an outside the- we struggled outside the tunnel and then he took me inside the tunnel" (182). This is a logical appeal because this is what happened to her before she got raped.

2. "Yours might be Arabic," I said. "It looks like mine is rape" (161). This is an emotional appeal because her sister is majoring in Arabic and going to Syria, while Alice claims she is majoring in rape because she has a trial to do.

3. "I had become his opponent now, no longer merely his victim" (160). This is an emotional appeal because she now has to fight against him in court and she understands that she has to really fight against him.

*Quote*
"On top was a copy of my testimony from the preliminary hearing" (165). The importance of this quote is that during the trial she is questioned about what happened and her answers are referred back to her preliminary hearing and what she said during that and if her answers are different or the same.

*Theme*
I think the theme of this part of the book is growth. In this part she is able to have sex with Jamie, nervous, but grabbing a hold of herself, she decided she needed to do this to help her get over with what happened. Also, in the trial she speaks slowly and doesn't jump to conclusion like she did in th line-up where she got the guy wrong, she is patient with trying to give a response. Which is difficult because Gregory Madison is in the room now when she talks.

Post B3

Dear Alice,
I am so glad that you decided to go back to Syracuse where you belong. Your poem that you wrote in class is, what I think, exactly what it should have been. You said it perfectly and even though it is hard to say what you said, it's how you feel and I respect that. I don't know if I would necessarily say I would want to kill him just cause of what he did to me, I think he deserves the punishment to live under his sin, whether he knows it or not. If you did kill him, it would do nothing to you but make you regret the decision because I know that being a murderer and a rape victim would put way to much weight on your shoulders. I also respect your teacher for not treating you like she knows you really well and feel bad for what happened to you, instead she listened to your story and helped you express your feelings through that poem. I think you are a great poet and I hope you still are writing poetry.
And, oh my gosh you have found your rapist! I am so glad you had the courage to go back out to where he was and look him in the eye and see who he was and what he looked like! Thanks to your bravery you caught him! I don't know how much trouble he is in or how long he will be in jail for, but I hope it's for life. I hope the trial goes well!

Sincerely,
Ellie

Post A3

*Vocab*
1. crestfallen: discouraged (84)
2. adamant: utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc. (78)

*Appeals*
1. "The world is not divided for me then as it is now" (90). This is an emotional appeal because it is how she feels about safety after she was raped.

2. "But I'd always had a hint that my father could be different away from us and away from my mother" (82). This is an emotional appeal because she wants to know what her dad can be like when hes not around the family.

3. "At moments like this I pretended my father was the big brother I'd never had" (83). This is an emotional appeal because she is having a good time with her father and wants it to stay that way.

*Theme*
I think the theme for this part of the book is hope. She is deciding where to go to school and hope that she picks the right one. When she was with her father looking at schools she hoped that he can act differently around her and she can feel comfortable with him. The other thing is that she hoped to be safe at Syracuse, but ended up in a situation that she hopes can be erased.

*Quote*
"I hate it here" (85). This quote is important because it was when she meets Mary Alice (her good friend) at Syracuse. They both at the time when they first started didn't like the school, but they became good friends and it grew on them a bit. The thing is that she said this before she got raped, now what does she think of going to school here, should she stay or leave?

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

Ok I really did not like this book. It was just not interesting to me at all. I feel like it was always going back to the same point at the end of each chapter. The point being that he is paralyzed, only being able to use his eye to communicate, and can't do anything cause he has locked-in syndrome. I never even understood anything that happened, our conversations in class were just always about he can't do anything and how terrible that is. Yeah, it's terrible that this happened to him and I feel bad for him, but I think this book is just boring. All of his stories feel like they would never actually happen before he got the syndrome. All I learned in this book is what it would be like to be like him. I think he's trying to make a point that life is short and all that stuff, but I know life short and he is still alive. Yeah he can't connect with the people he once could hug and play with very easily at all, but he's still here to see them and love them and I think that's better than not being able to see them at all. It never connected to me and my life, and in books I read I like to feel like I am part of the story. The one thing I did like however was the short chapters, even thought I never understood them, they made the book go by faster since I did not like it. Hopefully, the next book in class we read is more interesting to me than this one.

Post B2

Dear Alice,

Sometimes I just don't understand you during this book. You say some things that were just weird to me after what happened to you. I mean you handle it well, but sometimes I think you are handling it to well. Because when you said "considering the only thing I've had in my mouth in the last twenty-four hours is a cracker and a cock," (51) to your dad after he asked you something to eat; I found it just kind of rude to yourself. Like you try and joke about it and I don't think it's a joking matter at all, maybe it's just a way for you to recover cause sometimes I do that when bad things happen, but I feel this was just way to far. Especially saying it to your father when they are scared enough of what happened to you and they don't know what is good or bad to say. And when they ask a simple question like what do you want to eat and you respond how you did it might change how they act around you.
But on the other hand, sometimes you treat yourself worse than you should. Like when the boy came over for Mary and he gave you a weird look. And, you said, " He likes Mary,"...
"because Mary wasn't raped" (69). Here, you are being to hard on yourself I think. Maybe he just likes Mary cause of her personality, not by the way she looks or what she has done or what happened to her. But, being raped I'd expect someone to be on an emotional roller coaster, just not the same kind of roller coaster that you were on.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Post A2

*Vocab*
1. clandestine: kept or done in secret (44)
2. condescendingly: showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority (42)

*Appeals*
1. "What the dogs knew was that there were four distinct environments in our house and they rarely came together" (43). This is an emotional appeal because Alice talks about how she felt like everyone in her house was separate and didn't spend a lot of time together, which Alice wished they had.

2. "When I was little, I worried about losing my mother" (38). This is emotional because it makes me wonder why she worries, and she talks about these her having "flaps" and I don't understand what is wrong with her mother.

3. I like the story of how my parents met" (38). This is an emotional appeal because it says how she is feeling and it makes me want to know how they did meet.

*Quote*
"Mom and Dad and Jill's mom and dad said your family is weird" (37). This quote is important because when Alice was little her family was considered "not normal". It changed how she grew up and viewed things in her life about her family. She started to realize things about her parents that didn't bother her before. For example, she realized that her parents did not show a lot of affection for each other, which made her somewhat upset.

*Theme*
Since this part of the book right now is a flashback, I'd say the theme of these chapters is discovery. Alice learns more about how people see her and her family. She goes to school and plays in the band, but what she really secretly desires is to be a Broadway star. She also tells her mother that when she is older she wants to live in New York, which is the place that she ends up getting raped.

Post B

Dear Alice,

I am so terribly sorry about this event that happened to you. Obviously, my words cannot take back what happened but hopefully they can give you some hope. My biggest fear in life is what happened to you. Getting grabbed by a man I do not know and getting raped. I have not found out with how you dealt with it completely, and I don't know how you could. But, from what I do know, I would for sure say you are a very brave person. How you could just go and tell people right away that that had happened to you is remarkable. I would be to scared and embarrassed to tell anyone that. I don't understand the man who did it to you though. I don't get how he could wake up the next morning and just flip around and ask you if you are alright. Of course you aren't alright. But, I respect your decisions on helping him out when he needed it, otherwise you could have gotten more injured or even killed if you did not do as he pleased. I can't believe the things he said to you or made you do. It made me sick to my stomach when you described what happened and also when he said, " You're the worst bitch I've ever done this to." I don't even understand how someone in their right mind would have the guts to say that to anyone. If anything, I think he should thank you because you did what he wanted, right? But of course, never can you accept a thank you that gives you no happiness back. But I believe you have the strength to fight through this and I hope more than anything that you find you rapist.

Sincerely,
Ellie Gleason

Post A

*Vocab*
1. frumpy (frump): a girl or woman known as dull, plain, or unfashionable (23)
2. puttered (putter): to busy or occupy oneself in a leisurely, casual, or ineffective manner (25)

*Appeals*
1. "This is what I remember" (5). This is an emotional appeal because it makes me want to know what does she remember? What happened to her?

2. "You're the worst bitch I've ever done this to" (8). This is an emotional appeal because this is what the raper believed. And after he said that to her, the sentence comes back to her and seems to repeat over and over again in her head.

3. "I was just raped and beaten in the park" (16). I think this statement could go either way depending on how you see it. But I would for sure call it a logical appeal because of how it all happened in the park and him grabbing her and everything.

*Quote*
"Get back on the ground," he said, "and do what I say." This quote is important because it showed how powerless Alice was during the attack. Yeah, she tried to scream and shout, and kick her way out. But, she just wasn't physically strong enough to do it.

*Theme*
So far the theme of the book is recovery. Alice got raped, and now it is up to her to recover in what ever way she desires to leave this terrible event behind. And having it become something of her past in order to not let it haunt her future.