Page 241

Blog Post #4

"Tell it to the dead."
"If not then who?"
"Anybody."
"Nobody Ender. I'll tell you something. If you try and lose then it isn't your fault. But if you don't try and we loose then it's your fault. You killed us all."
"I'm a killer no matter what."

I liked this passage because it is true. If Ender doesn't try to go save the world then no one would. I liked the way Valintine worded her reasoning. It would even make me try to go back and try to save the world. I just wish Ender would stop being so negative about himself. He still doesn't know he killed two people so why should he think he is a killer?

Page 260

Passage
"It was also frustrating to have so little control, too, for the computer-controlled fighters were only as good as the computer allowed. They took no initiative. They had no intelligence. He began to wish for his toon leaders, so that he could count on some of the squadrons doing well without having his constant supervision."

Analysis
Ender is playing on a simulator in order to train for commander against the buggers. He is wishing the simulator was more challenging, but at the same time he wishes it were more flexible and, he wishes that real people were controlling the fighters so that they had intelligence.

Page 226

     "At least they had the good sense not to tell Ender that the boy died."
     "It's the second time too."
     "They didn't tell him about Stilson either."
     "The kid is scary"
     "Ender Wiggin isn't a killer. He just wins - thoroughly."

     Okay, when I read this part, I was like, what?! It really irked me, because for Ender to have killed two other children without even knowing is a horrible thing, and that the adults are encouraging it in him is awful. I know it's for the sake of the human race, but it still made me feel a little sick.

Page 168

     Okay so I found a piece of writing in here that I think is a metaphor: "And me - am I supposed to grow up like Graff? Fat and sour and unfeeling, manipulating the lives of little boys so they turn out factory perfect generals and admirals ready to lead the fleet in defense of the homeland?"

     I think this figurative language is effective because it displays Ender's guilt about singling out Bean. He's comparing himself to Graff, and the kids to factory products. It shows that Ender is still a child and really doesn't want to do this.

Blog Post #4 (THIRD QUARTER OF NOVEL)

1.  Always title your blog post with the PAGE # (this will help others avoid reading spoilers).

2.  You will have 4 blogs- each blog will be about a quarter of the book- this second blog should be from the THIRD QUARTER of the book.

3.  Blogs will have 2 parts- Part 1:  passage from the book  Part 2:  analysis of the passage.

4.  Don't forget to comment/interact with your peer's posts!

5.  You CANNOT choose the same passage as someone else- the first one to post claims it!

For your third blog, I'm giving you FREE REIGN.  You may post about ANYTHING.  Just make sure you pull a passage and then comment/analyze/question that passage.  Happy Spring Break!

--
Ms. Melin

https://sites.google.com/site/mselmer114/

Page 212

Blog Post #3

-He made no movement what so ever to escape the murderous heat.
I like this line because it seems to be comparing the heat to beginning a murderous killer. I feel like I can see a person rolling into it and see steam roll off them once the the shower water hits them.

I honestly couldn't find much figurative language, if there was any at all. But this sentence stood out to me and I think it was about the murderous heat.

Blog Post #3

1.  Always title your blog post with the PAGE # (this will help others avoid reading spoilers).

2.  You will have 4 blogs- each blog will be about a quarter of the book- this second blog should be from the SECOND QUARTER of the book.

3.  Blogs will have 2 parts- Part 1:  passage from the book  Part 2:  analysis of the passage.

4.  Don't forget to comment/interact with your peer's posts!

5.  You CANNOT choose the same passage as someone else- the first one to post claims it!

For your second blog, I would like you to analyze the author's use of figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification).  Some writers are extremely figurative  .  As you read the second quarter of your novel look for the BEST example of figurative language the author uses.  

In part one, write out the example of figurative language (include the surrounding text so that we can have the context of your example).  If your author uses NO figurative language in their writing- instead find a passage where the author could have used figurative language   Include the passage where the figurative language COULD have been.

In part two, explain why the figurative language was so effective.  Think about the feelings it creates in the reader, the picture it shows, or the idea it represents.  You also want to think about the figurative language IN CONTEXT.  How does the figurative language work within the scope of the story?  IF your author has no figurative language, explain how you would have incorporated it into the text OR talk about why his style works literally instead of figuratively.

--
Ms. Melin

https://sites.google.com/site/mselmer114/

New Layout

Ok, so here is the layout I made. If anyone wants me to add something just comment below please! Tell me what you think.

Page 85

Ender proposed his bargain. Free play, everyday, working hard in the battle room, under Ender's direction. They would learn things from the armies, from the battles that Ender would see; he would get the practice he needed in developing soldier skills. "We'll get ready together." A lot of boys wanted to come,too .

This is a short passage, but I think it shows how much control Ender has and how influential he can be. It adds to his character and the author's perspective of his personality. That characteristic will be needed to win the fight he will eventually have to face.

Page 35

I liked this passage because it showed the first problem Ender had at the new academy. The guy in charge states the obvious to Ender, it is also what other people don't see Ender as. The author makes this part as a conversation, which is also how he starts each chapter. I think this section really brings out the feelings Ender is having and how we feel when reading this book.

(Mrs. Melin, are you ok that I just post a picture of the passage, so they can just click on it and read it. I find this easier so I don't have to type it out. If you don't like this way then I will change it next time to me just typing it out.)

Page 29

Page 29

    He walked the bridge to the door in the shuttle. He noticed that the wall to his right was carpeted like a floor. That was where the disorientation began. The moment he thought of the wall as a floor, he began to feel like he was walking on a wall. He got to the ladder, and noticed that the vertical surface behind it was also carpeted. I am climbing up the floor. Hand over hand, step over step.
    And then, for fun, he pretended that he was climbing down the wall. He did it almost instantly in his mind, convinced himself against the best evidence of gravity until he reached an empty seat. He found himself gripping the seat tightly, even though gravity pulled him firmly against it.
    The other boys were bouncing in their seats a little, poking and pushing, shouting. Ender carefully found the straps, figured out how they fit together to hold him at crotch, waist, and shoulders. He imagined the ship dangling upside down on the undersurface of the Earth, the giant fingers of gravity firmly holding them in place. But we will slip away, he thought. We are going to fall off this planet.

    I think this passage describes the book, as well as Ender very well. It shows that Ender is a very individual thinker, and a person who is able to adapt. It captures the tone of the writer very well. His tone is serious and thought-provoking at the same time, which I really like. And this whole commentary about gravity really shows that.

Blog Post #2 (First Quarter of Novel)

Blog Quick Facts:

1.  Always title your blog post with the PAGE # (this will help others avoid reading spoilers).

2.  You will have 4 blogs- each blog will be about a quarter of the book- this first blog should be from the FIRST QUARTER.

3.  Blogs will have 2 parts- Part 1:  passage from the book  Part 2:  analysis of the passage.

4.  Don't forget to comment/interact with your peer's posts!

5.  You CANNOT choose the same passage as someone else- the first one to post claims it!

For your first blog, find a passage that capture the author's STYLE of writing.  If your author is descriptive with beautiful language, find a passage from the first quarter that shows that!  For your analysis, explain the author's style using examples from the passage.  (The passage and analysis should each be at least 1 paragraph- your whole blog post should be at least 2 paragraphs).

So, about our reading schedule...

   Alright, so I was reading the book, and I don't know about everybody else, but I read a chapter in about fifteen minutes, which presents problems if we're supposed to read twenty minutes every night.

   I kept reading for twenty minutes, and that was about sixteen pages or so.

   Can everyone just reply or post about how many pages they read in twenty minutes? Because as much as I like the chapter idea, I don't know if it will work out timing-wise.

  And also, what pages you guys are an right now, so we don't give each other spoilers!

  Thanks!

   Smiles,

       ~Audrey

Hi peoples!

Hi, I'm Sam. I'm in Mrs. Melin's 2nd period class. I enjoy swimming and eating (I enjoy eating the most).

I don't read as much now as I did in Elementary school, so I don't necessarily have a favorite book. I liked reading the Hunger Games series because at the end of each chapter the story kept going making me want to continue reading. I really like reading mystery books and ghost stories because there seems to always be something to solve in the end.

I think if we all read at least one chapter a day, we will be able to finish this book by 4 weeks (there are 15 chapters in the book).

Kendall Walden

Hi, my name is Kendall . and I like to play volleyball. I also enjoy music and hanging out with my friends. I dont really have a favorite book, specifically, but my favorite series is Dragons in our Midst. I like that series because it was really well-written and kept me reading. I got to really know the characters which brought the books to life.

As for our reading schedule, it is a longer book, and it depends on how fast each of us reads. I think 20 minutes a night for 5 nights a week is enough time. But if one of us doesn't get to finish, or is a slower reader, we could probably add some time to each read.  Another option is to read ___ many chapters a night so that we all stay at the same pace.

Ironic lack of smiley faces....

    Hi, My name is Audrey, and I'm in Ms. Elmer's 6th period class. (I would use a smiley-face here, but I'm not allowed.) I love reading, dancing (ballet specifically), and playing violin. I've read so many books it's hard to choose one, but I'd have to say that Harry Potter is definitely my favorite series. They were some of my first chapter books when I was in kindergarten/first grade. I've read the series twice, and the Sorcerer's Stone three times. My favorite stand-alone book is definitely Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. It's just brilliant.

   About our reading schedule, I agree with Sam's idea of about a chapter every night. That will theoretically get us finished in about three to four weeks, which would be pretty much perfect! (There would be another smiley face here, but the aforementioned emoticon is disallowed in this setting.)

   Alright! I can't wait for this book!
                             ~Audrey

Hi, I'm Noah! :D

Hello, my name is Noah, I'm a 15-year old, 8th grade, rainbow-obsessed dude. I like to draw on the computer using Paint Tool SAI and a drawing tablet, and I generally love to create things, from stories and art to whole programs and video games. I can program using C#, though I'm still learning the programming language. My all time favorite books are the Pendragon series. I never got to the last few books in the series, though I particularly enjoyed the ones I did read.

I'd say we should be reading our books day by day. Twenty or however some minutes every day through Monday and Friday each week. Then we can have fun all weekend without stressing over book reports.

Yay me. :P

First Blog Posts (Introductions)

Today you will begin your digital discussions with your peers.  Blogging is EASY.  It really is just like posting and commenting on any other social media website.  The first thing I must do is go over again my expectations on any digital forum.  First, I can see EVERYTHING you post.  Please be responsible and respectful with your posts.  You should not have ANY text slang.  This is not a place for LOL or OMG but rather for meaningful discussion on your novel.  

That being said, I would like your first post to be more of an introduction.  In your first paragraph, introduce yourself, tell your group members something you don't think they'd know about you.  Finally, explain your all time FAVORITE book and why you enjoyed it so much.  

In your second paragraph, pitch out a suggested timeline.  Remember our goal is to finish these books 4 weeks from yesterday.  As a group, figure out how much reading is reasonable.  If your group decides they need more time, I'll take that into consideration.  If your group finishes early, you can always choose another book as a group (I have some great book sets left to pick from).  If someone in your group has already pitched a timeline that you think will work you can just agree with them!  

Finally (this may end up as homework for some of you) engage with your group mates.  I'm not requiring 1 or 2 or 3 comments but respond to their posts.  Maybe they have a similar interest or like a book that you liked.  To make these book blogs work, you must not only post, but discuss!  This will get easier once you get into the novels themselves!

Happy Blogging!