Wednesday, February 29, 2012

"Life As We Knew It", Evaluation.

FCA's
1.  Identify a position (5)
2.  Explain your criteria, application, reasoning for your position with quoted evidence as support. Please indicate the page number of your quote in parenthesis following the quote. (10)
3.  Explain the position of the opposition and provide counterargument.  (10)

      "Life As We Knew It", (LAWKI), is being added to school curriculum's everywhere and more students as well as book enthusiasts are picking up this book. LAWKI is science fiction, it has gotten more and more popular. This book has won awards such as: Best Books For Young Adults by the American Library Association, and placed seventh in Top Teen's vote by the American Library Association. But why, is this book becoming a phenomenon there is no real educational value to it, it's not a timeless piece of literature. One Book One School should make high school students read something that is a classic or will make them question certain things-a book that will pose a challenge for the student.
      This book is in the form of a diary which makes it seem colloquial, this makes the book easier to read. Not only is the world ending but Miranda is an average teenage girl. The author is not, she is 63 years old, how can she relate to a teenager? Of course she was a teen once, but those times are way behind her. Also, Miranda has a love interest: Dan. How does the author know of love, when her love interest is her cat, Scooter. One Book One School  should raise their standards for books, this book poses no challenge for the reader. This book could be easily read in someone's free time. One Book One School, is a program for students so shouldn't the students read something more difficult? Everything a high school does prepares students for college. Students should analyze classic literature, which is like Shakespeare. Shakespeare's works are timeless. Books that convey a universal message or literary devices that helps the author illuminate an impression that they want their readers to get out of their work. A universal message is something that is relevant.
     Some people may argue and say that LAWKI  is a suitable book for One Book One School, because it is easier to read and enjoyable. It's easier for students to comprehend than Shakespeare or Emerson. In LAWKI, Miranda eats so many cookies she says:  "I couldn't stop eating them. I knew I was making myself sick." (pg. 193), for One Book One School the content of the book be confined to dimwitted context. No one cares if Miranda feels sick, this sentence is just simply to fill up the page. Also, in on part of the book Miranda deems one day as: "Crazy Shopping day." (pg. 192), in any post apocalyptic book there is always similar events; like stocking up on food. This book is predictable, it should be read for pleasure-instead of being a part of a school's curriculum.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Persuassive Essay

    The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States. The address reports on the condition of the nation, and allows the president to outline his legislative agenda. President Barack Obama presented problems as well as solutions, to the United States Congress. Education is imperative for one’s future. Teachers are needed-but states have laid off thousands of teachers. Being a teacher is a demanding profession, and they have a modest pay, not only do they prepare their students for a brighter future-but for the world.  A teacher’s impact lasts beyond the classroom.
    Obama said, “Other countries are doubling down on education.” Why can’t America, is education not relevant? Students are the future of America. While other countries are putting more effort and time into education-America isn’t. Obama also said this “...tight budgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers”; why does this happen when teachers are working “tirelessly”,as Obama eloquently put it, if this is the case why are we repaying teachers with pink slips. Obama proposed granting schools flexibility by replacing teachers who just are not helping kids learn. How would someone judge if a teacher is not doing their job, is it by what the class average is or their teaching style. Every teacher brings something to the table. What makes one teacher better than the next?
    Education is more than going to school for a few hours, as Obama said it’s “an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance”. Schools provide more opportunities for students who take it seriously. For some children school is all they have. As for teachers the same principle goes, this is their job; without it they would have nothing. They guide students to be the best they can be.
    According to Obama, he has convinced every state in the country to “raise their
standards for teaching and learning-the first time that’s happened in a generation.” This should already have been every states top priority, it should not have been the first time to be addressed in a generation. For being proud Americans we should constantly be trying to better this country, we should already have high standards and not be reminded to install these ethics into Americans.
    Many people would agree with Obama’s argument saying we should raise standards for teaching-but America should have already been working on it without it being addressed. Also, it’s very hypocritical of him to say this because the comprehension level of his speeches are of an 8th graders intellectual capabilities. It’s a contradiction because in the past other president’s speeches had a higher comprehension level for their speeches, now it has went down. Some people would he is trying to reach his audience-but if Obama is for raising the standards of education, he would not be as colloquial. His speeches would have a more dignified tone. So, why say one thing but not go through with it.

Book Evaluation,question 2

Originally, I was going to choose a book about Abraham Lincoln-but that would've been the second book project I have done on Abraham Lincoln. So I decided to choose "Tuesdays with Morrie", because it is something different. Also I have heard numerous good things about this book from my past teachers, and from some of my friends. Either way any book catches my interest, so I never have a difficult time choosing a book.

Book Evaluation: Question 1

Albom Mitch. "Tuesdays with Morrie" New York. Broadway Books. 1997.