Article Response--- The Hunger Games

            While reading the article “The Hunger Games” by Peter Travers, I noticed how the author spends a great deal of the article relating the movie The Hunger Games, which the article is a review of, to many other movies, specifically the movies from the Twilight series. I think the comparison of these two movies really helps Travers to get his point across about this movie. I think it helps him to get his point across because both these movies have a lot in common. They were based of books, and the directors had to figure out where to make changes so as to keep the movie appropriate while balancing both the romantic and violence from the books.

            Both The Hunger Games and Twilight were originally books, that were turned into movies. This is not the only similarity they share. They are both about strong willed girls, who end up in a scary, violent situation, where they are put between to guys, both who they care a lot about. In the article, Travers mentions this, and noticed how although in the book The Hunger Games there is more of a focus on the love aspect, it as not as intense and as important to the situation as in both the book and in the movie Twilight. Travers mentions this when he says, “Are you Team Gale or Team Peeta? You might not care as much, since neither has the exotic allure of a vampire or a wolf.” While saying this, he is shortly saying that although there is romantic competition, it doesn’t not bring you in, like it does in Twilight between the wolf and vampire. He goes on the mention that he thinks this is one of the reasons that viewers and critics have rated The Hunger Games as the better movie.

            In the article, it is mentioned that although the movie is great, it is hard to compare it to the book because of the restrictions that were put on the movie. Since The Hunger Games is a young adult book, it would do extremely poorly in the box offices if it were rated anything worse than PG 13. Because of this, much of the violence that was included in the movie had to be toned down, to keep it appropriate. Although this is not one of the comparisons Travers makes in the article, his past comparisons make you think further. While making Twilight, I’m sure the directors were faced with very similar circumstances as The Hunger Games. Although, like earlier stated there restrictions were more romantically sided, as oppose to The Hunger Games, which had to be more careful with violence.

            Overall I think the article was very well written, and Travers did an excellent job writing it. One thing he did that improved the article was the comparison to the Twilight books, and movies. This made you look at the movie in a different way and really made you think about some of the challenges that went in to making this movie, or any movie based on a book for that mater. Considerations that take place go way further that just restrictions of violence. It also makes me wonder, if there were no restrictions, and it could be exactly like the book, would it be better or worse?


Article: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-hunger-games-20120321

Plagiarizing Questions

·      What did the student do wrong? What could he/ she have done to include the source correctly?

The student plagiarized from someone else’s work, and stole their words. They didn’t quote it, they just took it, and they didn’t cite their sources. Instead of just plagiarizing, the student could have paraphrased the quote into their own words. They could have also taken parts of the quote, and cited it as the quote, not taking credit as it being their own writing.

·      Write a sentence using the original source correctly; use a quotation or paraphrase. Also, make sure to cite correctly. Consult my post on citing sources.

The painting Starry Night the background that contains many hills that go up and down, behind that there is a small little village, that gives of a calm vibe. I started thinking about how the town gave off that after reading the article “A Brief Understanding the Starry Night Paintings.” In the article, the author states: “There is a peaceful essence flowing from the structures.”

·      What are at least three ways to avoid plagiarizing?

1.     Quote directly

2.     Paraphrase

3.     Cite sources correctly

Blog Entry on Student Reading Responses

            I read both Gabby’s and Eliza’s blog posts. While reading Gabby’s blog post on Glass I noticed a lot of really great features of her blog, which really made in stand out. One feature I noticed in her blog was that she did a really great job providing examples, and when using examples she cited them clearly, and correctly. The text examples and quotes she used really helped her to prove her point and make the reader understand. Another great feature of her blog was that not only did she give you examples to support her thesis; she also did a really good job describing those examples, and explaining why they happened. She also included the lessons, and themes from the book, and gave some opinion on what she thought was happening without overdoing it.

            Eliza’s blog post on Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire was also extremely well written, and full of amazing features that made it complete. She had a very elaborate idea and thesis, which she supported well. Her post was way more than just a summary although she did provide enough background for it to make sense. She compared and contrasted many different ideas, further than her opinion. She provides important life lessons, not just from the clear focus of the book, but what she found analyzing the book, and really digging deeper into the themes, and reading between the lines. Another great thing that she does in this blog is that it doesn’t feel like an essay. Although it has everything that an essay should have, she writes it in an entertaining way. You almost feel like someone is saying this while talking to you.

            After reading these blogs I found a lot of really good elements that were included in them, that could help me to improve my blogs. One example of something that I saw in these blogs, that I think I could use in my blogs to improve them is using specific text examples and quotes. This is something I don’t usually put in my blogs, but Gabby’s blog was a good example of how they can really help to support your blog. Another thing that I saw in these blogs that could help my future blogs is providing lessons from the book. Whether they’re clear lessons that you can get from pretty much just reading the back cover, like Gabby’s, or more elaborate lessons, that you really have to dig for, and read between the lines to find, like Eliza’s. Those were just two examples of elements that I saw in these two blogs that I think can improve my blogs. Overall the two blogs I read were very well written, and provided me with ideas, and ways that can possibly help me to write better blogs in the future. 

Deadly Little Lies

I stare at you, long to hold you near,

But you look away, ignore me,

Then I follow your lead, and look in other directions,

And suddenly go back to the past, and look at me once I again,

Except I am gone,

Can I ever let myself come back?

            This poem basically sums up the relationship between Ben and Camelia in the book Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Stolarz. This book is a sequel to the book Deadly Little Secrets, and has a very similar plot. It is about a girl who is basically being stalked by someone, and receiving death threats, and she is trying to figure out who. While this is happening she is also figuring out that she’s a little by physic. She is a sculptor, and recently she has been sculpting random things like a pomegranate, or a horse, and then seeing them somewhere later. She is also hearing voices in her head, then actually hearing them later.

            While this is all going on she is madly in love with this guy Ben. Ben loves her back, but is scared to be with her, because he doesn’t want to hurt her, and he sort of accidentally killed his ex-girlfriend. Since Ben refuses to be with her, she starts to like this guy she works with, Adam. The only problem she sees though is that Adam isn’t Ben. Although, it turns out later that Adam Was Ben’s ex-girlfriends boyfriend before she died, and he came back two years after she died to get back at Ben by taking Camelia from him, although he actually starts to like her, even though she’s in love with Ben.

            So anyways, this poem relates to their relationship because Camelia is madly in love with Ben, which the poem represents by looking, but Ben refuses to acknowledge her, and like the poem, even refuses to look at her, so she gives up and moves to Adam, but then Ben realizes that he can, and wants to be with her, but she really likes Adam, and after everything she doesn’t know if she can even let herself be with Ben, especially cause she realized that he really can hurt her. Anyways eventually she realizes Adam was a jerk for what he did, and even 

Much to do About Nothing

                        Dear Friend,

            I really encourage you to go see the Shakespeare play Much to do About Nothing. It is highly entertaining and humorous, especially at the theater we saw it at. This play is about a girl and a guy who are in love, but all they do is pick on each other. They must be tricked into realizing their love. Along with this, the girl’s cousin falls in love with a guy. The guys friend’s evil brother tries to break them up, so she fakes a death, and then comes back to life, and they marry. This is one of the few Shakespeare plays were no one actually dies or gets hurt. This was a nice change from the normal moody, gloomy stuff that is usually incorporated in his plays.

           When I was watching the play I was amazed at how un confusing and clear a Shakespeare play could actually be. Of course the workshop I took before were I learned the plot of the story helped, but the main thing that really allowed me to understand this play was the acting. The actors, The actors did a great job of portraying their characters, and while watching it was almost always clear what was happening and going on, something that continuous to confuse me in Romeo and Juliet.

           

            I have to say if given the choice, I would rather read this, than Romeo and Juliet. This is because this play happens to be more entertaining and humorous. However Romeo and Juliet supposedly have all this hummer in it, but just reading it, it is very hard to find. Maybe if I were to watch a play of Romeo and Juliet I would think differently because the acting would help me to better understand it.

            In conclusion I highly recommend you go see this. It is very entertaining, amusing, and kept me attached through the whole thing. If given the choice I would definitely go see it, and even read it over Romeo and Juliet. I had an excellent time watching it, and think that the directors and actors were all amazing. The workshop also sincerely helped me to understand what were going on and the plot, even though it was a little confusing, it was still very clear.

                        You should definitely go see this,

                        Sincerely,

                        Becca

Romeo and Juliet--- Diary entry

            Dear Diary,

                        I am but o so confused. I was sure she was the one, that her beauty would be mine, that I could possibly want nothing more. But now, everything is foggy. I’ve meet Juliet. Rosaline looks like a crow compared to her. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. For her, I would do anything. I now no longer need to feel the pain of love. I won’t have to weep over Rosaline, as she never wanted to contribute her beauty to the world. I won’t have to cry to Benvelio about her selfish ways. Yet my head will still be turning, spinning in circles, lost and confused by this thing called love.

            Juliet will soon be mine. I will make sure of that. I would do anything for her to feel for me, the way I feel about her, but I just don’t know if she does yet. Love has made me do some crazy things, but this sure has to be the craziest of all. Going after Juliet. She is filled with more knowledge, beauty, and kindness than any one I have ever let my eyes stray to. Two days I have known her, and already I’m head over heels. Soon I will not only be head over heals, but down on one knee, ready to propose.

            Diary please give me the power to get her. Give me the power to convince her to carry me inside her, for her to be mine forever. There is nothing I have ever loved more than her. There is nothing I have ever felt this strongly about. I know I would take a knife to the chest, if I just meant she would allow me to spend time with her. All I want is she.

                        I’ll let you know how things go,

                        Until then,

                       

                        Sincerely,

                       

Romeo

            I wrote this letter to show how romantic Romeo is. I wanted to capture is personality but at the same time show some sort of pot going on in the story. I also wanted to really prove how easily he falls for girls. I did this by mentioning that her wants Juliet more than Rosaline. This shows that just recently he felt similar to this about a whole different girl. I captured the plot in this entry by saying how they can’t be together. All though the timing in the book, and the entry is a little off, I think I do a good job showing all of this. This entry also captures Romeo’s personality. It shows how he really is just a hopeless romantic, by how he is writing how in love he is. I think this is important because he is known as a famous character all around the world, at every age as the big, nice, amazing guy character. He is also portrayed like this in the book, so it is important that in his own diary entry, it is clear how he is feeling, and that this known personality for him is in fact accurate. 

Letter to Friend on Romeo and Juliet

Dear Friend,

            I have recently just begun reading Romeo and Juliet. So far it is clear to see why this book is such a famous book. Shakespeare does an amazing job including details, and really giving a clear picture of what is going on, and who the characters are, and their personalities. Even though it is a play, therefore there are no details (main details) written by a narrator, it is still clear to see them, as if they were in book form. He is able to add humor into it without taking away from the plot, and the seriousness of it, but so you can still see the puns and word play. Less then twenty pages in, the plot is already clear, many characters have been introduced, and you can guess what the main problem is going to be.

            Although the writing style of the book may be a little confusing, the majority of it can be understood. Of course the definitions, and explanations on the side are helpful, I have found that just by reading slowly and carefully understanding the concept, and the idea of what is being said isn’t that challenging. The only Shakespeare I have read before is a paraphrase of Midsummer Nights Dream, which was when I was much younger. I thought it was very interesting, and I appreciated that I was able to read the story without all the confusing language, but I have to say I much prefer this. Although it is more challenging and time consuming to read, the language of the book really helps to make it what it is, and describe the scenery.

            So far in the book it is clear that there is a rivalry between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s. It seems to go even beyond their families but also to their servants. You also know that Romeo is upset about something. All you know that is love in cannot have, but you do not know why yet. It is also clear that the royal families do not appreciate the fighting between these families. I am wondering what the rest of the town thinks about this, and why this rivalry started. Also, the relationships between Romeo and his parents, and Juliet, and her parents.

            If you are planning to read shake spear I would definitely recommend reading some of the definitions from the side before you start, and to make sure you read slowly, and really pay attention to every word and how it is used. I also recommend trying to paraphrase the phrases or lines you are confused by, because missing one line can kind of throw the rest of the story off, because most things seem to relate to each other. One more thing I would recommend is trying to familiarize your self with the story before you start, because that can also help things make more sense.

            I hope you read some Shakespeare, and you are able to enjoy it as much as I am. Good Luck!

                        Becca