Go Ask Alice Week of 10.30.14

Pages Read: Finished!
Prompt:  If you could choose a different title what would you choose and why?

            I would probably choose the title "Alice's Rocky Road". This title sounds a little cheesy but I think that it defiantly fits the story. Alice starts off as a really good kid, she does great in school and never gets into trouble there. She had a very hard time making friends and so she moved. When she moved Alice started to hangout with a new group of people but little did she know that they were bad. Alice went to a party and the host played a "game" where she put a drug called LSD in some of the drinks. Alice got one of those cups with the drug in it and she was hooked. She began to do different types of drugs with that group of people and her life changed.

            Alice got on this rocky path and started to do drugs which made her do not so good things. She was never one for sexual interaction of any kind but that quickly changed. Alice went from being such a nice and sweet girl, to a rebel who did drugs and inappropriate things for her age. Once Alice told herself that she couldn't live like this anymore she stopped doing the drugs and drinking. But when she screwed up with a guy who she didn't even want to be with she felt terrible. Alice liked another boy who she wanted to be with all the time and she felt like since she screwed up with someone else she couldn't have him. Her last resort was to go back to doing drugs.

           I really do think that the title I chose would be a pretty good second choice because "Alice's Rocky Road" shows that in the book a serious of events will occur that will change everything. Alice does go through a rocky time with her highs and her lows. The highs are when she is sober and doing really well. The lows are when she gets into doing drugs and starts falling behind in a lot of things such as her social life, school, etc. I enjoyed this book and I need a new one to read. Please give me some options.

CONFESSING THE UGLY TRUTH...

This is a mix sort of between 1 and 3. Montresor is confessing to the Police about what he did. When he first confesses an officer takes Montresor to an interrogation room in which he tells the whole story.

     One morning, 25 years after the killing of Fortunato, Montresor, the murder, confesses to the police.

     "I am Montresor and I confess to the murder of Fortunato!"
     
     "Come with me sir," said the Police Officer."
               
      The two man went into the interrogation room and the police officer starts to question Montresor. Montresor doesn't want to be questioned so he decided to just tell the whole story right away and not answer the questions he was asked. He started with what Fortunato had done to provoke the situation.
    
     "It all started with Fortunato and his "beastly" ways." Montresor stated. "He mocked my every move and was so full of himself. I couldn't take it anymore."
     
      The police officer asked, "Why didn't you just leave him alone and block him from your life?" 

     Montresor continued with him story and ignored what the police officer asked. "My family motto means 'No one shall hurt or provoke him with impunity.' 

     Montresor cleared his throughout and continued with his story.

     "Fortunato was a connoisseur about wine. I knew exactly how to trick him into coming with me so I could kill him."

     Montresor paused to clear his throat and the police officer was about to speak but what quickly interrupted by the words of Montresor once again.

     "Amontillado!" 

     "Amonti-what?", asked the police officer.

     "Amontillado!" exclaimed Montresor. "Amontillado is one of the finest wines know to man kind. I tricked Fortunato by saying we were going to get some wine from Luchesi and he fell for it."


     The police officer asked,"Who is Luchesi? What does he have to do with this story? How does he know Fortunato? Was he involved in the murder of Fortunato?" 

     "He is just a friend and no he didn't kill Fortunato. To be honest he did't even know what I was up to." Montresor said. " Now where were we, ah yes! I lured Fortunato to the catacombs on my land. We walked all the way to the very back and as deep as e could go. He was drunk because it was Carnival and I might of had something to do with how drunk he was. My "friendship" with him seemed real only because I faked it so he would come and-"


     "Wait!" Shouted the police officer. "Exactly where were you again?"

     "I was in the catacombs on my land now like I was saying-" said Montresor very aggravated.

     "Okay you may continue."

     "As we got deeper I gave him another drink to ensure that he was intoxicated and that all of it would be unclear to him. When we reached the spot where I had killed him there was to staples in the ground. One had a chain and the other, a padlock. I chained him by the waist against the wall four feet deep. Then I made mockery of him and started to filing in the wall by putting down the first tier." 

     The police's mouth dropped down in horror and in shock. Then he managed to stutter these words out, "Arrr-re yo-uh saying that you ww--aalllded a mannnn to death?!?"

     Montresor nodded his head and continued with his story. 

     "I plastered all the tiers in a left one small spot open when I heard Fortunato mocking me again and was in complete denial about everything that was going on. I tapped some of the burned up ashes from my torch and let it fall onto him. I was done and plastered the last brick when I couldn't hear Fortunato anymore."

     "Why did you kill him like that?" asked the officer.

     "Well because I have done it before and I wanted it to be out of sight and for no one to find out. He needed to suffer and this option worked perfectly."

     "Why are you confessing now Montresor?"

     Montresor said "Because, right before I plastered the last brick, there was a moment of hesitation. It wasn't a long moment but it was there. I felt ashamed but quickly got over it. Ever since then it has haunted me and I no longer can live like this."

     Both the police officer and Montresor stood up. Montresor put his hands behind his back and said "Go ahead". The officer grabbed his handcuffs and placed them on Montresor's hands.

"You are under arrest. You will have a trial and if you loose that trial you will be imprisoned for life."

"It's okay, I don't have much time as it is."


THE END

              

Passion Project

               Our Goal for Passion Project is to chose something we are passionate about and to pursue it. So I chose to make a Youtube channel with Bela. Youtube is something that I really like because I get to watch these people and go through their journeys with them. For example, there are people called Youtubers and they do vlogs about their day and post it on their channel. These are interesting to watch because you get to see what they do everyday and how their lives are. Some Youtubers I can relate to in a lot of ways and that is why I love watching them. Another thing that the Youtubers do are challenge videos or tags like the Sibling tag, the best friend tag, and the BF/GF tag. Those are also interesting to watch because you get to see how ell everyone knows each other. Youtube is very fun and I watch a lot of different types of videos.

               Why do I want to make a Youtube channel with Bela? I want to make two actually! One of them will be a goofy channel where we do challenges and tags as well as maybe a few vlogs. The second channel will be serious. That one will be mostly for school purposes such as how to prioritize and different tips to use for homework, studying, and managing stress. This serious channel I hope for the school to use as sort of like the Heritage News when we had one but this time it will be for the world and for anyone. I really want this to work even if we have 2 views at first. It will want us to keep going every time we get a view or a like. Youtube is something that I have always wanted to do and is really fun for me. I can't wait to get started!

Some Youtubers that I watch:

Joey Graceffa:

Tyler Oakley:

Troye Sivan:

Pointless Blog:

Zoella:

Tanya Burr:

Meghan Camarena:

Brittani Louise Taylor:

Colleen Ballinger/ Miranda Sings:

And many more!!

Blog: 10.22.14

Pages Read:100-115
Prompt: Pick three songs that could represent your Character. (I got this prompt from one of Bela's blogs.)


               If I had to choose three songs that Represent Alice I would have a tough time. I would have a tough time because she is all over the place with how she acts and her personalities. I also don't listen ti music that had to do with drugs or things like that. I know a few songs in mid and some of the others I had to look up on the internet. The first one I thought of was Try by Colbie Caillat. I chose this one because it talks about how you don't have to so hard for the attention and to just be you. I think that Alice doesn't realize that and that is the reason she had multiple personalities. I actually like this song for myself too because I struggle with always wanting to fit in and look as good as everyone else. I am not like Alice with the multiple personalities and the drugs, but this song helps with self consciousness and I think it would help her.


               The second song I would choose is Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machines. I chose this song because there is a specific verse that talks a little bit about washing if life down the drain and how this person is in a bad situation and just wants to hide all the time. This is just like Alice because she is always hiding from the truth and reality. It also talks about running from happiness because they are stuck in this negativity and are scared because they don't know how to get out. Alice is in a very troubled situation and kind find the right in t he wrong and the positive in the negative.

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

               The third and final song I chose was Bad Situation and I have never heard this song but I have seen the lyrics before. The lyrics that I chose represent her very good because they talk about making a bad situation good and how you need to change the negative to positive. Alice needs to get her life back into the right order and to have better life goals. So I chose this song and this verse:

try to make the best of a bad situation
try to make the best of a bad situation
your taxes mow your lawns in your old age contagion
but I try to make the best of a bad situation

Time Travel Blog

Q: Where would you go?

A: If I went back in time I would go to my first Christmas Eve and Christmas day with both my sisters and our whole family. It was the Christmas of 2004. I was 3 years old and my little sister was just born a little over a month before Christmas Eve. I would go to this day because it was when our family was finally complete. It was my baby sister’s first Christmas and my third but only this time everyone was together and everything was perfect.

Q: To which year or period would you travel?

A: I would still be in the 21^st century but 10 years from today. (2014)

Q: Whom would you want to meet or what event would you want to witness?

A: I would just want to everyone opening presents and having a good time. I would also want to see us sitting by the fire and doing everything we do ever year as our tradition. I would like to meet myself and see what I was like as well as seeing how much I have changed over time.

Q: Where would you find this person or see this event?

I would find this event upstairs at my house and I would see myself on the floor opening presents with my family.

Q: Why would you want to meet this person or witness this event?

I would like to see this event because it was the first Christmas we spent as a full and complete family. I would want to meet myself to see how much I have changed.

Q: How might YOU change history?

I could change history because maybe our traditions could have been changed or I wouldn’t get the same childhood I had.

Blog on Character Development and Characteristic: Go Ask Alice week of 10.16.14

Pages Read: 55-100
Prompt: Find the Character Development and Characteristics of Alice.


               In this book I noticed that Alice is a very shy girl on the outside and a "party animal" on the inside. Alice doesn't have many friends and doesn't really socialize easily but she does act crazy when  on drugs. It all started when she was given a drink with LSD inside of it. She liked how it felt while on that drug and decided to do other types with her friends that gave it to her. You can see her true character when she talked about how she felt and why she wants to do more. Her character really changes throughout the book because she becomes more or a bad girl and a rebel. I think that as we go along we can see the True Alice and what she does in her life.


             The character development in this story is very sting because we get to see Alice transform. She goes from this sweet little shy girl to kind of an outgoing rebel. We go through this journey with Alice and now we not only go through her normal journey, but the journey of finding herself. When she "finds" herself it is in a bad why, through a bad way, and is bad for her. She isn't her true self but she thinks she is because "it was meant to be this way for a reason." Her morals are usually in a good spot but not for long. Alice's character is changing as the story goes on and in a bad way.

Reflection Blog 10.17.14

               Right now, including the books from August, I am about 3 books into by 40 book challenge. Over the sumer I read two books and I am currently on my third book. I read "The Fault in our Stars" and the Kind of Friends we used to be". I started reading "If I Stay" in the beginning of the year but then I didn't feel like reading it so now I am on "Go Ask Alice." I hope to either reach 40 books or come close to 40 books. So far I am doing better than last year and already have a few books done! I have improved with my reading a little as well because I have been reading more often, not a whole lot more but enough. I struggle with time management sometimes especially with reading. I either get too tired because I don't fit everything in at a decent time, or I am not in the mood. I personally like writing better then reading but that is my opinion. If you asked be last year what my thoughts were on reading I would say, "eh", "it's okay I guess." The year before, "not a huge fan but I mean maybe?.?" Then if you asked me now I would say, "I like to read, it isn't my favorite thing to do but if I have the right book I love it!" I am not always one to read but when I do it is pretty enjoyable and a good thing for me to do on a bad day or when I am having a tough time with something. Sometimes I even get the same feeling when I right, the feeling of escaping the area just for a moment and letting everything out and letting it all go.

               My blogs have been getting a little better recently. I have been adding more content and writing better content as well. I used to not like to write blogs but now I am starting to like them more but usually when I get to write about anything. Don't get me wrong I do like to write blogs but not always about my books. I like writing short stories and other little entries but I guess it is all just the same and I should write just as good. Also, my quality of the blogs over all, I think, are improving a lot more. One strategy that I learned when writing blogs was that it is easier for me to work on one paragraph at a time and make sure it is one of the best that it could be. I don't like to work on my blog all at once because then I feel rushed and I do rush it so the blog is not as good as it could be.

               Over this quarter I learned about ISIS, Ebola, and about things happening in other places around the world. It is really cool that we get to learn about all these different things happening in our world because if it has to do with the U.S. it is good to know. Even if it didn't have to do with the U.S. like Ebola when it first started. This was good to know because we didn't know that it was back or if it could spread over to the U.S. When we heard that Ebola came to the U.S we knew exactly what it was and how it was spread, etc. Many people didn't know and we were prepared to know everything.

               My research skills have gotten much better. I learned how to properly cite everything and the proper format as well. Instead of looking for a cite and just grabbing a quote and putting it in my own words, I now use textual evidence and quotes while putting my own words/ responses into the paragraph/s sentence. Did I improve? I think so, I think that I have been improving and have been doing much better than what I thought was my good effort, now I am doing my best work. I usually thought I was doing almost my best but not anymore.

Reflective Blog (MAKEUP ASSIGNMENT): Go Ask Alice Week of 10.06.14

                 In last weeks blog I made a few grammatical errors. This week we focused on run on sentences and sentence errors. So I took that knowledge and applied it to my blog. In the first paragraph I had a run-on sentence that really stood out. It said " Now, "Go Ask Alice" was written by an anonymous author, it's a real diary, so the writing techniques were pretty much the same throughout the pages that I have read." I find it a little embarrassing on how long that sentence was. Another thing I noticed was that I put extra information like "The author uses words that show her feelings for that day and it is frequently noticed. " I didn't need to put the last part of the sentence in there. I also was a little repetitive when it came to stating the writing techniques that I had found. I always said the same thing and added the same details.

               Looking at my blogs from last year I can see a huge difference in my writing techniques. For example, I used to write with a lot of grammatical errors and to write with a whole lot of repetition. I still use some repetition but I got better with it. Now I write better, longer, and more complete. I think that my content level has also exceed more because my blogs are a little longer and better.

Go Ask Alice Week of 9.29.14

Pages Read: 1-54
Prompt: How many different writing techniques can you find in your book?

                     When I was reading this book I noticed that there were a few writing techniques that the author followed. Now, "Go Ask Alice" was written by an anonymous author, it's a real diary, so the writing techniques were pretty much the same throughout the pages that I have read. Some of the writing techniques that I noticed were the tone and the style of the "entries". The style is shown throughout the book by the word choice. The author uses words that show her feelings for that day and it is frequently noticed. The words she uses goes with not only how she feels but how the setting is or how the other people she is with feel. The tone is showed through the story because there is a lot of times were she is feeling a loss of self worth or feeling depressed about a situation and this is how I can define the type of girl that Alice is. Not only can I define who she is but I can tell what the story will be like from here on out.

                     Since "Go Ask Alice" has a difference in the way that it was written, the writing techniques are always the same because it was her personal diary. This really helps me to believe the story is true and to sometimes relate to certain situations because of the way that she write since she sticks to a specific pattern. By sticking to a specific pattern it becomes easier for the reader to understand and read the book easier, at least for me. I would not mind reading more books like this one, journal entries, because I find that the story is more relatable because it is coming from a real person, or a realistic character, that has more realistic personality than someone from a book like "The Hunger Games".

                      "Go Ask Alice" is about a girl who goes to a friends party and at that party her friend had a few friends spike drinks with LSD, a drug. The drinks were mixed up and 10 out of the 14 cups had LSD in them. After that night she wants to get that feeling inside her again and she ends up doing different types of drugs. When she describes the feelings she has and the "cravings" that she has for it, she uses specific wording and phrasing to make herself seem like she isn't doing anything bad. She writes questions and writes in the diary as if she were speaking to a real person. This helps the reader understand what they are reading and helps them with connecting to the character.