Personal Connections

I made a lot of personal connections to the main character of the book, My Sisters Keeper. The girl, who's name is Anna, is a very independant 13 year old, and considering that I was about 13 years old when I first read the book, I could connect to her feelings very well. As I read the story, I found myself in sympathy with many of her. Because of both age and gender similarities, it was easy to understand a lot of the points that she made and to be interested in her story. The more times I have read the book (I tend to do that =]]), the more I understood where she was coming from, but as I have got older, and she stays the same age~I have realised that there were many things I did not understand about her when I first read the story; that my own experiences helped me to identify with.

I beleive that it is important to make personal connections with characters in books, in some way or another, so that you stay interested in the story (wow...that sounds selfish doesn't it>but I guess it's true!). Personal connections also help you learn from the character, appreciate the mistakes the character has made, or consider what they could have done differently!

Clue 2

The Word is God, and God is Life. John was a Prophet, not God. God became man in the form of Jesus. Jesus came to earth, but the people He created did not recognise Him. He gave the opportunity to all who beleived in Him to be born again, as a son of God.

esus. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

This introduction specifically pertains to the existance of God in relation to the world, and to Jesus. It describes Jesus' relation to the people, and what He might do for the world.

1) Label all parts of a plot graph

The ‘plot’ is the sequence of events that make up a story. The ‘Plot Structure’ is the key components that the plot is made up of. It is like the building block, the stronghold that the plot of a story usually follows and is based upon. Plot structure is made up of 5 key components; introduction (exposition), rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (dénouement). The exposition or the introduction is made up of the background information that is needed to understand the story, such as an introduction to characters, setting, time etc. The rising action is what happens leading up to the climax. The climax is generally the most important part; the turning point in the story. It is defined by a big decision made by one of the main characters. This is where all the exposition and rising action reach a peak in the story. The falling action is the events that occur after the climax, usually starting to tie off ends and start to finish the story off. The resolution or denouement is the conclusion to the story. It ties off all the loose ends and generally releases any dramatic tension gained in the story.

2) Why do stories need to be structured? What does this reveal about our need, as humans, to construct understanding?

Stories need to be structured for many different reasons. Most basically, if all stories are organized in a similar manner, then it enhances our capacity to take knowledge, and more importantly understanding away from what we hear or read. On a deeper level, we are creatures of routine, needing structure and repetition in our lives. Our brains have learnt to process information in certain forms, and a consistent structure helps to ensure our ability to comprehend. Since humans have a natural curiosity, a need for inquiry, it makes sense that we have specific ways that we want to enquire, and gain information. If this specific way happens to be structure, then so be it. Because we inquire, we construct methods that help us to do this, in other words, we construct understanding. Stories are obviously one of our sources of knowledge and experience, so we have put in place devices, such as structure so that we can understand them. It is really an ingenious way to build on our understanding and knowledge.

3) After you looked at the plot graph and structure of “Marigolds”, what new things did you see in the story that you didn’t see before?

After looking at the plot structure of “Marigolds”, I was able to distinguish which parts of the story had not made as much sense to me before. Confusing details became clear because I understood the purpose of details in context. In particular, I was confused about where the introduction of the story fit in the plot structure. I had read books and stories that used this kind of reminiscing at the start before, but I wasn’t sure whether it had a specific place in the story. After studying the plot structure, it became clear to me that this story in itself was part of the introduction. It was little details that helped enhance the story. If this ‘introduction’ had not been in place, the reader would have had trouble figuring out the setting, characters and most importantly, the fact that someone older was telling a story from their childhood. It was a creative way to help enhance the understanding of the moral or meaning that the reader was to take away from the story. In the resolution, as well, the author begins to reflect as well, which was a creative way to start tying off the ends of the story.

4) What is the theme of Marigolds and how does the structure of the story make that theme evident?

The theme of “Marigolds” has to do with ‘growing up’, and the loss of innocence that is experienced in this procedure. The structure of the story makes this theme truly evident, as the exposition and resolution of the story both clearly state this theme. Without knowledge of plot structure, a reader may discount the validity of the statements that are presented by the author. This story, “Marigolds” is told in such a way that it is read, or understood as a story with a message or moral, in this case, a theme. The plot of this story is, in some cases, jumbled up and confusing to the reader, but when plot structure is understood, it becomes easy to recognize that, in addition to telling her story, the author is also reflecting on the events that took place in her childhood. She is commentating, throughout the story, about what she learned as a child in this time of her life. She also makes additions to the story about what she has learned or realized, concerning the events of the story that applied to the experience she had. It was some of these details that made up an important part of the plot structure of the story. Some of these details also enhanced understanding of the story. In this way, I think that it is safe to say that understanding of the plot structure of a story is very helpful in enhancing understanding in this story, and many others.

Connections =]]

1) Right at the beginning of the story, Lizabeth very vividly remember only one overall, specific memory of the place where she grew. I have a similar experience; there are only specific things that I remember, but very vividly, about my early childhood!

2) The way that she describes the dust of her childhood, brings back memories for me of my childhood; growing up in a hot, arid area of Australia with lots of dust!

3) How she describes the community that she is living in reminds me of driving through South Africa this summer, and seeing townships everywhere (little communities set up by the governments to house native people). The houses seem to be the same, rundown sort of structures that I witnessed in South Africa.

4) The way that the children go off and play for the whole day, during the summer at least, reminds me of what I used to spend all day every holiday doing in Australia; off with cousins and sisters, wandering around the farm for the day, exploring and using our imaginations to play the fun games that we did, and only coming back when we were hungry at the end of the day.

5) Though she is only a teenager, you can tell that she is weighed down with some loaded thoughts. As the oldest child in my family, I can understand how this is sometimes the case, and I feel for what she is feeling, and how she is reacting to what she knows.

6) I can identify with the way that Lizabeth reflects back on the probable reasons for what she did as a child, as I like to reflect too, and spend a lot of time thinking about the past, and why things happened like they did.

7) The big change that Lizabeth mentions, that occurs in her, and ends her innocence~ kind of happened to me at nearly exactly the same point in life (age), and I can therefore identify well with the change in attitude and the way that she describes her feelings.

8) I really like the way that Lizabeth describes her reasoning for them being destructive as children. She implies that they are this way, because somewhere deep underneath, they realized how little chance they had of making it anywhere in life.

9) I also am in awe of the way that the author uses imagery in this story. Well formed imagery is my favourite part of reading, and it especially helps to connect to, and imagine this story as if I were in it!

10) My final connection is a text-to-text connection, which brings me to recall some of the previous literature I have read, especially about African-Americans in the time of the Great Depression. I have noticed that reading more stories and accounts of these times have given me a better appreciation of the hardships that these people may have been struggling with at these times, and I am always humbled from reading about this kind of thing.

Short Story

Exposition:

It was a lazy Wednesday, in the middle of the Christmas Holidays, summer, 2004. The scorching sun pounded on the backs of our necks and cracked our lips. Two girls ran across dry paddocks, dodging grazing sheep, jumping over crevices and climbing through fences; the soles of their bare feet thumping on the ground as they raced along. The dried grass swishing past their feet soon turned into crumbling dirt and crackling twigs. Before them was a creek bed, nearly dry this time of year, with just a trickle of water slowly making its way down the well worn path. The girls leaned against towering gums at the edge of the cool, shady sanctuary, chewing contentedly on stalks of gum leaves, and catching their breath.

Rising Action:

They walked nonchalantly along the trunk of a fallen gum, skirting around the radiant patches of light penetrating the cover of the tree’s over head, and down to the water’s edge. Splashing each other with the cool water, and slurping mouthfuls with cupped hands, the girls giggled. Spotting one of their favourite wombat holes, they turned to run up the opposite side of the bank, imagining the cool darkness of the chamber.

Climax:

Halfway up the rocky escarpment, a cry rang out. Standing in the midst of many rocks and twigs stood one of the girls, clutching her foot. Crimson blood dripped off her foot, streaking her hand; flowing trails down the hand and then trickling onto the steamy earth underneath her.

Falling Action:

The other girl, who was near the top by this point, turned at the outcry and carefully made her way back down the hill until she reached the scene of the accident. After tossing the criminally sharp rock protruding from the dirt into the dried clump of bushes nearby, she assisted the injured back down to the water edge. Perched on a boulder over hanging the creek, they carefully washed out the open would and applied pressure onto the cut, staunching the flow of blood for the time being. The lacerated foot was dangled gently in the water while hunting for a suitable bandage began. After a few hilarious failed attempts, the girls were back in good spirits and beginning to forget the pain of the moment.

Resolution:

Finally, the semi-ingenious solution of a collection of large gum leaves, clamped over the wound with a hair elastic from one of the girls heads, provided enough pressure to stop the flow and allow them time to limp back over the dried, yellow paddocks back to the small red and blue farmhouse of their origins, and some more sophisticated medical support.

Note: Conflict= The falling and cutting of the girls foot on the stone. Having no means of medical suppot immeadiatly available and having to use only what could be found in the immeadiate area to solve the problem.

Balanced

Caring

Inquirer

Risk Taker

Thinker

Communicator

Myself as a Reader

1)How I feel about reading...

2) Last 5 books that I read...

The Broker, John Grisham The Rainmaker, John Grisham

Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea, Michael Morpurgo

The Testament, John Grisham Handle With Care, Jodi Picoult

READING!

I love reading!!! Actually, that's an understatement! I would be NO-WHERE without literature. I love all kinds of books, but particularly fiction. I like realistic fiction, science fiction, mystery, action, intelligent, even picture books if they are well written and illustrated. My favourite authors would have to include Jodi Picoult, Michael Crichton, John Irving, Hesba Brinsmead, Dan Brown, John Grisham (a new discovery), Mary Higgins Clark, Johanna Spyri, Roisin McAuley, J.K Rowling, Bryce Courtenay, Karen Kingsby, Nancy Farmer, and many, many, many more!

My favourite books, to date, are A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Pastures of a Blue Crane by Hesba Brinsmead, books in the Harry Potter Series, some books by Jodi Picoult, and Deception Point by Dan Brown.

READING HABITS

I will read pretty much anywhere, anytime. I can read on my bed, or in a noisy supermarket, just before class starts, or on the couch at night. If I am really into a book, I will take it everywhere with me and read it whatever chance I get, but if i'm not sooooo captivated, I will mainly just read before bed. If it's worth it, or I can't sleep, I will stay up all night to finish a books, and then find that I just start right on with another one. I am progressivly becoming a more picky reader, so if I'm not captivated in the first couple of chapters, I generally won't keep going (unless the book has been recommended). If I like a book, I will generally read it more than once! There is a million one books that I know of that I REALLY want to read, but sometimes I just pick up a random that looks interesting.

5)Book-Movie

As a general rule, I am very dissapointed with the result that occurs when a good book is made into a movie. I feel that it spoils not only the creative capacity of the mind, but discourages people to read the actual book, because they were just content to watch the movie. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and surprisingly enough, though I most commonly strongly dissagree with books being made into movies; one of my favourite books, A Prayer for Owen Meany, has been made into one of my favourite movies, Simon Birch. I think that the reason I like both the book and the movie is that though the movie is inspired by the book, a lot of things are different, enough difference to leave them both individual enough that I can enjoy them both!

First Stab At Essential Questions

What are my current reading skills?

Currently, I am quite an efficient reader, who has a fairly large range of vocabulary; who can read fluently and with ease. I am capable of comprehending, and can even substantially analyse what I have read. I can easily isolate words on a page. I can scan a page and get a fairly accurate representation of the main idea. I am confident in reading a large variety of different texts. I am competent in reading both inside my head and aloud. I also love reading which adds a component of interest and excitement to my reading!

How can I improve and grow as a reader?

I can improve in reading by focusing on reading lots more different types of books and texts. At the present time I like to read science fiction the most, but if I broaden my horizons and add a little more variety to my reading, I should improve. I also need to take the time to learn more vocabulary to enhance my understand when I read. This can be addressed by reading books that have a higher level of vocabulary than I am comfortable, and taking the time to investigate the whole meaning of words I am not familiar with. Another was I can improve my reading is by reading a lot of different genre’s of books, especially from foreign countries, and different time periods. I believe that reading more international literature with broaden my perspective on the world, and reading books from different time periods will help me to develop substantially as a reader.

What purpose can literature serve in my life?

Literature is already a big part of my life, and I know it will be important for me to develop my skills regarding literature in the future. I am hoping to get a university degree that focuses on some component of literature, so it is important that I get a good foundation of knowledge in the area. Also for my enjoyment, I know that literature will be an important part of my recreational time. I am hoping that literature will also serve as a means of education for me, wherever I go, and whatever I decide to do!

What resources can I find in the library that will help me in this course and other courses?

The TCIS library, while rather limited compared to some, has a fairly large range of educational tools available for students. Fiction, Non-fiction, poetry, online resources, magazines, video’s and even audio resources all contribute to the education for students in TCIS. Particularly text books available from the library are useful in many subjects, and some classes are based nearly entirely around these resources. Specifically for English class, the poetry, fiction and non-fiction, works of literature available in the library will help me to practice and enhance my abilities in reading and provide a focus for class lessons to be structured from.