LOTF Final Journal

I have to admit I did not at all suspect they'd get rescued. It's such a violent and dark novel, I didn't expect it to have a fairly happy ending, for Ralph at least. I believe he cries at the end of the novel, when the danger is over because he knows he's safe and its all going to be over soon. He's probably just so emotional and overwhelmed he cries out of joy, relief, anger, and sadness. I despise Jack and Roger the most of all the boys on the island. I'd have to say though that I despise Jack more because he is the most belligerent and savage. I would recommend this book only to someone who appreciates and understands deep and meaningful books. It's only a good book if you understand the symbols it has otherwise it's pretty boring.

Chapter 11 Response Questions

1.    Ralph’s group decides they must call an assembly and attack Jack’s tribe in hopes of taking back Piggy’s specs.

2.    The twins are “seeing Ralph for the first time” before going to Castle Rock in that they witness for the first time him being an aggressive leader by strongly standing up for what he believes in and fighting Jack.

3.   The boys’ attempt to get back Piggy’s specs and the other boys to maintain a signal fire is bound to fail because the savages refuse to hear them out. Jack doesn’t want to work things out peacefully but instead would rather fight.

4.    I think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff to feel powerful. He wants to be superior and impress the others.

5.    The destruction of the conch is significant in that is symbolizes a final end to all attempts to being civilized.

6.    The boys want a chief because they need someone to follow and make decisions for them. They feel like a part of something and a whole when they are all under the rule of one.

7.    If you were back home and there was never a war, what would you probably be doing at the moment?

Now think, what would that Jack think of this evolved Jack?

8.       I don’t know what to do anymore. I miss home still of course. Everyone does. I loved the idea of no grownups and a whole island to ourselves when we first arrived but now things are starting to get out of hand.

       I’m with Jack’s tribe. I feel more connected and it feels good to be a part of a group with hunting and dancing and meat! It’s just some of what goes on is getting a little much. Jack isn’t himself anymore. Just the other day he bet up my good friend Wilfred and now Ralph has gone into hiding, but above it all, the beast still wanders the island…

LOTF Ch. 10 Questions

1.  Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric claim they all left early last night and missed everything that happened with Simon. They say they left right after the feast because they were tired. Samneric state they were tired, and all four boys pretend they weren't part of the dance. “Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively. ‘We left early’” (Golding 158).

2.  Ralph has a huge guilty conscience about Simon’s death. He says it was murder and has realized how violent the group has become. “I’m frightened. Of us. I want to go home. Oh God, I want to go home” (Golding 157). Jack of the other hand doesn’t even acknowledge Simon. “It came—disguised. He may come again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat” (Golding 160). He says it had been the beast that attacked the previous night and disguised himself as Simon. “Each savage flinched away from his individual memory. ‘No! How could we—kill—it!” (Golding 160). Although every boy subconsciously understands the crime they committed, no one will admit it and use the beast as an excuse to cover for it.

3.  Based on his order to have Wilfred beaten, Jack has become a completely ruthless dictator. He’s lost his civil ways including his morals. “‘He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up.’… ‘But didn’t he say why?’ ‘I never heard him’” (Golding 159). Jack can’t control his emotions in a civilized manner so instead uses brute forces. “The chief said we got to challenge everyone” (Golding 159). Jack is insecure about being chief and doesn’t want anyone at all to challenge his authority.

Jack is chief now as all the boys except for a few take orders from him.

Piggy: has asthma and loses glasses

Ralph: accidentally hits Eric in the face

Sam: destroys the entire hut on his own

Eric: accidentally knees Ralph in the “pills”

Jack: leads the savages to attack the hut

Roger: follows Jack to attack Ralph’s hut

Ebola Editorial Response

1.     What does Betsy McCaughey identify as a problem in her commentary?

She identifies the poor precautionary measures against Ebola in her commentary. Local hospitals and their nurses/doctors are unable to handle Ebola in her eyes.

2.     What solutions does she offer?

A solution she offers is that Ebola patients should use the nation’s four bio-containment hospitals rather than trying to use local hospitals.

3.     How does infection expert Sean Kaufman view the CDC’s guidelines for protective gear in treating Ebola patients?

He views the CDC’s guidelines for protective gear in treating Ebola patients as “absolutely irresponsible and dead wrong.”

4.     What point did Rep. Michael Burgess make about CDC head Thomas Frieden?

He said that CDC head Frieden was wearing a protective suit that covered him head to toe whereas in the U.S., there are parts of you.re body exposed (neck, head, wrist).

5.     Ms. McCaughey concludes her commentary by recommending: “The best Ebola strategy is to protect our local hospitals, health-care workers and patients by relying on the nation’s bio-containment facilities. That’s what they were built for.” Do you agree with her recommendation?Yes, I agree that Ebola patients should be cared for in these facilities because if you isolate the virus, it won’t spread to others like patients in local hospitals and the doctors and nurses.

Article Summary

            In the article titled "Miracle Survivor", Sandra Sobrieraj Westfall discusses a fatal plane crash whose lone survivor is a seven year old girl. Sailor Gutzler is the only member of her family to survive their family plane crash. First, Westfall points out what a happy and loving family the Gutzlers were. Next, the author informs the reader of the trip the family was planning—a routine visit to their son's Navy base. They were flying home when the plane began having engine problems and crashed in the woods of western Kentucky. Also, the author explains how Sailor bravely escaped the burning plane, leaving her dead parents, sister, and cousin, and sought out help by going through the woods in total darkness. Sailor's only major injury was a broken arm. In addition, Westfall describes each of the family members who passed away. Each was loved and will be deeply missed. Finally, Westfield concludes by writing how Sailor will be cared for by other relatives and is on her way to mental recovery; as she told someone, “She has to be strong for her mom and dad because they would want her to be strong.”

Latin Roots #8

Roots and Derivatives

1.     flu(x), fluct (flow, flowing)

2.     fort, fore (strong)

3.     frater(n), fratr (brother)

4.     fus, fund, found (pour, melt)

Word List

1.     Affluent- flowing with wealth and riches: prosperous; a flowing stream, as a tributary;

It was obvious that the girl came from an affluent family as she lived in a mansion and she drove a brand new BMW.

2.     Confluence- a coming or flowing together, as of rivers or ideas; a place of joining;

The meeting was planned to create a confluence of the best and brightest students to come up with the solution.

3.     Confound- to perplex, confuse, amaze, or bewilder;

A successful magician is able to confound his audience and leave them wondering how he did his tricks.

4.     Effusive- pouring forth in an emotional way; unrestrained or overly demonstrative

My sister’s effusive apology came off as insincere as it was overly dramatic with her constant crying.

5.     Forte- one’s special area of accomplishment or performance; one’s strong point;

My cousin’s forte in academics is definitely math as he always has the highest grade in class and it is not difficult for him.

6.     Fortify- to make stronger; to strengthen; to establish defenses;

Every army tries to fortify their soldiers to guarantee success in battle.

7.     Fortitude- strength of character; patient courage;

I have always admired my dad’s fortitude as he never gives up and always tries his best.

8.     Fraternize- to associate with or socialize in a brotherly fashion; to be friendly with;

My parents don’t want me to fraternize with my cousins because our families are constantly feuding.

9.     Fratricide- the killing of one’s own brother, someone who commits such an act;

He was found guilty of fratricide even though he denied that he had killed his own brother.

10.  Mellifluous- as if flowing honey or sweetness; like the tones of a honeyed voice;

The mellifluous music was so soothing and pleasant that it put me in a good mood.

11.  Profusion- a pouring forth, as of great numbers; plentifulness; an abundance;

The profusion of people coming out of the stadium reminded me of ants coming out of an anthill.

12.  Superfluous- (flowing) beyond what is needed; in excess of a sufficiency;

His superfluous speech made everyone lose interest and become bored with what he was saying. 

Knowledge

Knowledge is something we acquire from the time we are born. As toddlers we gain knowledge from what we are allowed or not allowed to do from our parents. Once we enter school, we gain knowledge from our teachers and through education. But knowledge is not just something we learn from books or as teens from the internet or social media. It is all around us and in everything we do and every conversation we have with our peers and the people around us. Whether it is learning a new sport or facing pressure from friends we are gaining knowledge about ourselves and our lives. If we didn’t continue to acquire knowledge as we go about our daily lives, we wouldn’t really be living.