Pages- 1-30
Prompt- Describe the Who, What, When, Where, and Why, of the story you reading so far.
SPOILER ALERT
I have just started the book Cake Pop Crush, which (I know) sounds like a stupid story. Cake Pop Crush is literally the worst title for a book I've ever heard. It makes the book sound inferior, in my opinion. Though, the story is actually kind of interesting. It's a bit predictable so far, but I really want to find out what happens in the end! So, to give you an idea of the story (because the title is a little misleading) I'm going to inform you on the Who, What, When, Where, and Why, of the story.
Who- Alicia Ramirez (Ali for short)
Ali Ramirez is the main character of the book, and the story has been revolved around her love for baking! She's pretty good at it too (to say the least)! She's just a normal kid, not really shy or outgoing. She seems to be very sweet and gracious, as well as kind. As for her family, she has a little brother, named Roberto, and a Grandmother who she calls Abuelita. She lives with them, as well as her Dad. Her mother passed away when Ali was younger, and she can't stand the absence of her mom. Ali also has two best friends, Tansy and Gwen. They are very tight knit and have an unbreakable bond. We haven't learned much more about who Ali really is, but so far, she seems like an excellent and inspiring character.
What- Baking, Allocating, and Ignorant Boys!
Like I said before, so far the story has been revolved around Ali's passion for baking! That's what Alicia, her father, and her late mother, love to do! Also, considering it's titled Cake Pop Crush, I would assume a lot of the rest of the story will be centered around baking as well. So, in beginning of the story, Alicia wakes up extremely early on the first morning back to school after winter break. She decides to bake lemon, poppyseed, sunshine cake pops to share with some of the kids at school that day. When Ali gets to school, she passes out the treats to her intermediate friends, and some of the more "Prominent" boys. Then suddenly a limo pulls up to the school and a handsome looking boy steps out, not looking too pleased to be at school. So, Tansy and Gwen (Ali's Friends) encourage her to share a cake pop with him. I mean he looked absolutely miserable. So, Ali stuck one in his locker. Though, when he found it, he examined it, and then tossed it in the trash. That's where I left off, and I couldn't believe how ignorant and rude this new boy had been! I can't wait to see what happens next!
When- The First Day Back From Winter Break.
There's not much to say about the when of the story because the book has only taken place over one day so far! It's the first day back from Christmas Vacation, which we all know from experience, can be a drag! It's only take place also, over about a 12 hour span. The story began at 4:30 in the morning, when Ali bakes he cake pops! Where I left off, it was around 4:30 in the afternoon after the school day ended. There's not much to it yet.
Where- Oak Canyon California, Oak Canyon Middle School, Say it With Flour Bakery, and the Ramirez Household.
The whole story so far takes place in Oak Canyon, a small city in California. In this city, the story also takes place through Oak Canyon Middle School. Obviously it's where Ali and all of her friends go to school, and where half of what I've read has taken place in so far. Another place where the story is set, is the Say it With Flour Bakery. It's the family bakery that the Ramirez's own. The family started the bakery, in honor of Ali's mother, who passed away. We don't know how she died, but she did have a passion for baking. Ali "works" there, but her father doesn't really allow her even the slightest bit of authority. Her friends will also go their to hang out after school. One last place that the story has taken place in so far, is the Ramirez Household. It's pretty conspicuous that this be the case, because the main character, Ali, and her family live there. I know that all of these places will frequently continue to come up in the novel.
Why- Her Mother.
From what I wrote above, you may be confused. "Her Mother" is not a very clear why. I am answering the question of "Why does Ali Bake?" This would be a perfect question and answer for the Why because, again, the whole book has revolved around baking so far. When Ali was younger, she was told she used to have a colic. She would constantly cry, and throw tantrums. Her mother would always have to hold her to make her stop. One day, he mother was baking a type of Mexican Bread Pudding; a recipe she had tried to perfect for weeks. It included cinnamon, so one day she allowed baby Ali to shake the cinnamon onto the dessert. The recipe then, came out perfectly! That was why she even became interested in baking; just from that one instance with her mother. Now she continues to bake in honor of her mother. It's just incredible!
So, those are the Who, What, When, Where, and Why, of the story so far!
He stared at me intensely; his large, dark eyes looking fiercely as if they could see into my soul! It was like he already knew what I'd done. He already knew I was guilty of murder, and he'd never met me. Maybe this lady will be next. You would never suspect an elderly woman to uncover the mystery of Fortunato's disappearance! I can't believe she would bring this information to the police! Can't you let it go, it happened fifty years ago for God sakes! I thought I'd be safe for sure, but unfortunately I was wrong. After I murdered Fortunato, I thought I'd covered up my tracks well enough so no one could follow them. Apparently, I had not. I just need to be confident in my argument, that's all. If I can just lie my way through, then I'll be safe. Oh no, he's writing things down on a notepad. He knows I'm thinking about lying. He can just tell. I should've never done anything to Fortunato. He did insult my religion, as he was a Mason, who didn't believe in God. I had to do something! He so badly offended myself and God, time and time again. He had to pay. I just need to get this interrogation over with. I need to stay undetected for my crime.
"Hello Mr. Montresor, I'm Officer Colton Mordecai. I just have a couple of questions to ask you," he said in a very serious tone of voice.
I cringed; he definitely wasn't here to mess around.
"Okay," I said, "What information can I fancy you with?"
"To start off, what were you doing on the day that Fortunato seemed to go missing, during Carnival season?"
"Well, I started the day celebrating, like everyone else. I was having an exceptional time, dancing, and drinking. Really enjoying. Though as it began to get later, I ended up bumping into my dear friend Fortunato."
"Yes," said the officer, "and what were you discussing that caused you to leave the party? You did leave correct? We have a witness."
"Yes, I did leave the celebration with Fortunato. Though, it was at his own will."
"Oh was it now?
"Yes, it was. I informed him that I had received a pipe of Amontillado that I believed to be inauthentic. With hearing this, he immediately fancied trying it. I did not want to bother him in his celebration of Carnival, but he insisted. As he is very respected for his wine expertise, I allowed him to come to the catacombs where I stored my wine."
"If you were only going down to the catacombs for wine, how could Fortunato have possibly gone missing? Wouldn't you have brought him back out once you were finished tasting the wine? Our witness says that you went left with two, and came back with only one."
"Well, that is true. But just keep this in the back of your mind; I warned him!"
"Okay..."
"As we traveled through the catacombs, I noticed that Fortunato had a terrible cough. I asked him a number of times if we would like to go back out to the party, so he wouldn't have to suffer. He, time after time, said no. The nitre was what really did it."
"What do you mean 'the nitre did it'?"
"Well, nitre is is just another way of saying Potassium Nitrate, which is like a white, crystalized salt. The catacomb is encrusted with nitre, causing it to be very damp, and cold. This I knew well, would be detrimental to Fortunato's health, put he was very persistent in getting to the wine. His cough seemed to get worse as we continued."
"So, the damp cold area mixed with Fortunato's cough..."
"Well, it killed him! He stopped, out of nowhere, and grabbed his chest. I didn't know what to do. We were too far now in the catacombs to get help. Then he went into a coughing storm. He couldn't control it; couldn't breathe! Then he crumbled down to the ground, and lay there, clutching his chest. He was gone. I knew something was going to happen, but he tried to convince me otherwise."
"So, he just stopped breathing? Why didn't you come and tell someone?!"
"Well, I figured, because we were already in an underground cemetery, that I'd leave him to rest peacefully. I didn't want to stir up the celebration with such a horrible death! I'd planned on informing his family members later, but I just could never bear to speak of my dear friend's death."
"Okay, I've heard enough. That's all of the questions I have. You answered them with the truth for all I know. Though something seems a bit suspicious."
I cringed. He could sense it. The hairs on my spine tingled. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I though I might vomit. Sweat started forming on my forehead. I looked more guilty now than ever.
"But, no other witnesses have come to us to prove your story otherwise. You're free to leave."
He shook my shaky hand. I breathed steadily, and my heart rose in relief. Thank Heavens I was not caught. If I was, there's no telling the consequences! Now there's no way this police officer could possibly prove me wrong. It was a fluke that the woman saw me walk down to the catacombs with Fortunato. I planned my revenge so intricately that it was practically impossible to catch me. I Montresor, remain undetected yet another day for my crime of killing Fortunato.
Pages: 200-End
Prompt- Talk about 3 of the major themes that are included in your novel.
Looking For Alaska has a lot of major themes throughout the novel. I find this a bit peculiar because usually you find between one and four themes in a novel. Though, this novel has probably at least ten that I could think of! Now, not all of those themes are exactly "major". They're not all a main part of the central idea of the story. Though there are three pretty big themes conveyed throughout the book. They are Friendship, the Pursuit of a Great Perhaps, and The Labyrinth. The character's actions, interactions, and motives, all really help develop and reflect these three themes.
One of the first themes that we can really see throughout the novel, is Friendship. The novel begins with Miles Halter's going away party. Only two "acquaintances" of Miles even attend this party. He barely even knew these two people! With no true friends from his old school, Miles moved to Culver Creek. In Culver Creek, Miles attended a boarding school. This was like a fresh start for him. At first, he was hesitant with his friendships and was awkwardly unable to engage and interact with others. He was also unsure of whom to follow or become friends with. Though, he slowly learns to be himself around four new people. They are now considered to be his new friends. Little did he know how close and tight knit they would all really become. We learn that Miles values his new friendships by the way that he strictly does what his friends ask of him, and how he helps them out when they are in need. He especially adheres to his roommate, the Colonel’s, “no ratting” policy. He also shares both his time and money in order to smoke and drink alcohol, activities in which he had previously not participated in. As the novel progresses, Miles transforms from a loner to a typical teenager trying to understand the complication of friendships. He particularly finds it hard to understand his friendship with Alaska. Miles goes through thick and thin with his new best friends. He learns what it's like to really care about someone, because he'd only really had small interactions with others before (besides his parents). Now, Miles has changed, and acts a little bit differently. His friends had a great impact on his life, and the story. The novel really shows what a huge impact a couple close friends can have on your life. It can change you for the better, but it can also change you for the worse.
Another theme that we can really see throughout the novel, is this pursuit of a "Great Perhaps". As Miles transitions from his old school to his new life at Culver Creek, he goes in search of the Great Perhaps. Miles is constantly unsatisfied with his state of being. The pursuit of the Great Perhaps gives Miles hope for a better, more exciting life and future. He wants something more! He wants a more appealing and interesting life. Miles is really sick of how he's living life. However, he begins to discover this Great Perhaps when he goes to Culver Creek. Though, this Great Perhaps that Miles discovers, is not a singular moment. It's rather appreciating all of the moments that he's had. It becomes increasingly clear that the Great Perhaps is all around Miles, but he is only able to see that when he lives in the moment. An example of this would be what he does during the notorious fireworks prank on the Eagle. He is living on the edge, and taking part in activities that are compelling! Though, he spends so much time thinking about the Great Perhaps, that he doesn't realize that he's had the opportunity for a "Great Perhaps" all along. If he would just live in the moment and embark on something exciting, like he did at the Creek, then he would have found his Great Perhaps a long time ago. He just needed to find the right setting and people to help him realize that he could actually have his Great Perhaps. This really shows you that anyone can live an exhilarating life! All you need is the right place and people to help you realize this! Your Great Perhaps also doesn't even have to be something crazy and dramatic. You can find a Great Perhaps in anything! Even just setting off fireworks to help pull prank!
One last theme that we can really see throughout the novel, is the Labyrinth. When Alaska quotes Simón Bolívar’s last words as ‘Damn it. How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?’ Miles becomes entranced and interested with the famous leader’s last words. Over the course of the school year at Culver Creek, he comes to realize that we are all living in a labyrinth. Though, not everyone is in the same labyrinth. For some people, the labyrinth represents the suffering of life and for others it symbolizes an escape from death. Each character has many ‘labyrinths’ in which they find themselves trapped in. Miles struggles with making friends and figuring out Alaska. Alaska struggles with the coping of her mother’s death and romantic tangles. The labyrinth does not have a singular meaning, it rather represents the individual struggles that people have. This shows us that life is just like one big maze. Solving the maze is different for everyone. Everyone has different ideals, and ways of problem solving. If people decide that solving the maze, means death, then they think that when they die, they'll have gotten out of the labyrinth. If people decide that solving the maze, means being able to live life problem free, then they think the'll still be alive when they have gotten out of the labyrinth. Everyone is different. This theme really helps to show that everyone encounters problems in life. Whether you think that solving your problems will end with death, or being able to live a problem free life, is a personal view. Everyone's problems, also,influence how they see "solving the Labyrinth".
Time Travel Interview
Q: Where would you go?
A: If I were to go back in time, I would travel to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to witness the "I Have a Dream Speech" given by Martin Luther King Jr.
Q:To which year or period would you travel?
A: I would travel back August 28, 1963. During a time period where African Americans were discriminated against and treated unfairly in U.S.
Q: Who would you want to meet or what event would you want to witness?
A: I would want to witness the "I Have a Dream Speech" and meet Matin Luther King Jr. if I were to travel back to this time.
Q: Where would you find this person or see this event?
A: I would find Martin Luther King Jr. giving his "I Have a Dream Speech" at out capitol, Washington D.C., in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Q: Why would you want to meet this person or witness this event?
A: I would want to witness the "I Have a Dream Speech" and meet Martin Luther King Jr. for many reasons. Though mainly, because both MLK and his speech, are extremely powerful and inspiring. Every year in school, Martin Luther King Day comes around. We always talk about how incredible the "I Have a Dream Speech" really was! Though, we'll never be able to know what it felt like to witness it in person. It must have been truly breathtaking and incredible! I think it would be amazing to experience an event that special and well known in history. I would also love to meet Martin Luther King Jr. because he had such a huge influence on the U.S. and World. He helped fight for the rights of all people, but especially African Americans. His main goal was for everyone to have equal rights, wand for discrimination against blacks to end. He was able to really open the way for African Americans, even if he didn't completely end discrimination against them. He is truly inspiring. I would love to meet him as he was an extremely motivational and uplifting person!
Q: How might YOU change history?
A: I might change History by being able to help Martin Luther King Jr. enforce the idea that everyone should have equal freedoms and rights! I think if I came from the future, people would think I was very important. They would be in utter shock, and would probably be intrigued with what I had to say. If I could convince the people that everyone should in fact be treated the same, no matter what color their skin is, they might really listen. I could also inform them that we actually will have an African American President in the future. If they find this out, their minds may also be changed about blacks. If they find out how far African Americans have come, they might realize they need to start treating them differently. Martin Luther King Jr. might not be assassinated for all we know! If I could change their minds, the way blacks are treated could change a lot faster. This could change history completely! African Americans could have an even bigger impact on our lives than they do even today!
Pages- 125-200
Prompt- How does the main character develop through direct and indirect characterization in the novel you are currently reading?
The main character in Looking For Alaska is Miles "Pudge" Halter. As I've seen so far, he develops greatly as the story progresses. He has changed from the beginning of the novel very dramatically! John Green is developing Miles through characterization. Characterization is the process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character. John Green does this using many methods. We get a decent understanding of who Miles is at the beginning of the book. His parents plan him a going away party because he is heading off to boarding school. Though, no one actually ends up showing up. We are able to get an idea of what his life is like to start out the story when he says, "I could feel their pity as they scooped artichoke dip with chips intended for my imaginary friends, but they needed pity more than I did: I wasn't disappointed. My expectations had been met." The author is using indirect characterization to emphasize the fact that Miles doesn't have many friends, if any. He is most likely pretty lonely, if we wasn't even expecting a couple people to show up to his party. I know that people can be happy without really any friends, but it doesn't seem like Miles is too happy. Throughout the whole first chapter he seems like a bit of a downer. Even in this quote, he explains that his expectations had been met for the party. That means he didn't expect anyone to show up at all! He wasn't disappointed, but he should've at least expected a couple people. He has a lack of hope, and is a bit of a pessimist. Though as the story goes on, we are able to see him break out of his shell of loneliness and hopelessness.
Miles is also seeking adventure. We can see this when he says, "That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps." This is also indirect characterization. Miles is explaining why he wants to go to boarding school. It shows that Miles may be bored with his current life, and wants something more (though he doesn't explicitly say this). He wants excitement, but has almost been confined in Florida. He is well kept, but wants to start looking for something greater that will happen to him. Because he is good, and quiet most of the time, he wants a change. He doesn't want to spend his whole life, waiting for something great to happen. He wants to experience something amazing, but he hasn't really had the opportunity.
The main way that the author develops the character is through setting and Miles' reaction to other characters. Like I said, Miles didn't really have any friends, but that all changed when he went to Culver Creek Boarding School. It was a fresh start to meet new people, and he did meet some interesting people. He met The Colonel, Alaska, Takumi, and Lara. Though it's mainly just the four of them, they had a deep bond. We can see Miles developing and beginning to actually make friends after he has almost been drowned and The Colonel says, "But we will deal with those Bastards, Pudge. I promise you. They will regret messing with one of my friends." This is direct characterization because The Colonel is literally coming out and saying that Miles, is his friend! He is also letting Miles know that he will deal with the people that tried to drown him. When another person sticks up for you, it is usually an indicator that they are a friend that really cares about you. The Colonel is really beginning to get close with Miles. Miles finally feels like he has a friend he can count on. He can now feel less lonely, because he has made an actual, real, friend. He can also feel more positive because he knows he has someone looking out for him.
We can also see Miles develop into a more confident, optimistic, and mischievous person with his new school and new friends. When himself, Alaska, The Colonel, Takumi, and Lara are setting out to prank their school, Miles says, "The five of us walking confidently in a row, I'd never felt cooler. The Great Perhaps was upon us, and we were invincible. The plan may have had faults, but we did not." This is direct characterization. It is direct in the sense that it's explicitly saying that he was now walking confidently with his four other friends. He has this new positivity and confidence about him, and he is acting more bold! He is going to take the risk of possibly getting expelled from school from setting off fireworks, and breaking into dorm rooms with this prank. He even admits the plan had flaws. This once quiet, good boy, is becoming more rebellious and mischievous. He knows he is breaking the rules, but does it anyways. It's because of these new friends and this new school that he has even attempted this risk. This quote also talks about how "The Great Perhaps" that Miles was seeking, was finally happening. This new and exciting opportunity came up to prank the school. He now feels like he is fulfilling this Great Perhaps.
Throughout the story, we can clearly see that Miles has developed through setting and his reactions to other characters. This once quiet, lonely, unconfident, good boy was completely changed. A new school, has caused him to make new friends. These friends have caused him to do things he would've never imagined doing, and helped him to gain a new confidence. He is able to break out of his shell, and take risks. He is fulfilling his Great Perhaps, which he would've never imagined doing! He was greatly changed and influenced by the setting and other characters in the story. They have been the main developers of Miles throughout the story so far. Though, I know a main conflict in the story will develop Miles as well. (I just didn't have the time to elaborate on it in this blog.)
I feel like I have progressed greatly throughout the 1st Quarter. One way is through my Blog Posts. This year I have really been focused on word choice. I have begun to use more advanced and mature words. My blogs are beginning to sound more sophisticated and more intelligent than in the past. With a new advanced vocabulary has also come a more knowledgeable analysis of text. Not only is that improving my blogs, but things like my AoW's as well. Another way I have progressed with my blogs are through sentence structure. I just recently started focusing on sentence structure, but it is beginning to improve. All of my writing consisted of very lengthy run on sentences. While I still have a bit of work to do, I can tell that it's getting better. I've learned how to break up sentences, to make my writing more effective. Now, it's a lot easier to read my blogs. The sentences are more to the point, and you don't get lost in the middle! I need to continue thinking about word choice and sentence structure as I continue to write, blogs. Hopefully they progress even more throughout the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters.
I feel that I have also progressed throughout the 1st Quarter, with my writing in general. I am really able to understand what I am reading, much better. With annotating for a specific purpose, I am now able to grasp what I am reading even more than before! Now with the Short Stories and AoW's we are annotating, I am able to write a more intellectual response. I am able to get more out of what I'm reading, and interpret it with greater depth. Also with the new knowledge I am gaining, I am able to have a more educated opinion on topics! I am learning more about what is gong on in the World! I am able to understand new concepts! I am able to identify new things like Writer's Technique, and Character Development in stories! I am able to more easily identify theme and tone. All of these parts of a story that I thought I understood before, I have a better grasp on. I am really developing into a better writer just with the things we've done in the past 10 weeks!
All of the progress I've made didn't just happen magically. I've learned and worked on so many skills this quarter. We did a couple of mini lessons on the Parts of a sentence, paragraph structure, topic sentence, and supporting details. Through these lessons I have learned how to write with correct techniques. I've also learned how to correctly identify character developments and author's writing techniques. I've learned to identify both of these in my personal reading book, as well as short stories. It has really helped my overall understanding of what I am reading too! I have also been able to conduct smarter, and more thorough research. I've been able to make my research more affective on the topic I'm looking up. I've also begun to be able to cite sources in MLA format more easily. Certain topics that I've had trouble with in the past are beginning to click.
Along with improving upon my skills, I've learned so much about the World. If it weren't for everything we do with the AoW's, I probably wouldn't know what Ebola is! I would maybe have a vague understanding, but I would be pretty confused. Learning about current events has allowed me to become more aware of what is happening in the World today. Now I am able to have an educated conversation with others on topics like this. I don't have a lot of time to read the newspaper or watch the news, so it's awesome that I'm learning about all of these events in school. Overall, I think I've been very successful this quarter, and have learned so much! I'm improving everyday, and I hope to continue this "streak" of learning and improving through the next three quarters.
Prompt: Compare your writing from your blogs in the past, to your most recent blog post, and explain how you have progressed.
I believe that my writing has progressed from my blog post at this time last year, to my most recent post. One specific area that I feel I have progressed, is through length. I know that having a lengthier response isn't usually preferable to a shorter response, because it gets too overbearing and redundant. Though, with the extended responses, have come a deeper analysis of the text I am reading. I am using more details to support my claim, with a deeper insight of what is really happening in the story. Take one of my blogs from last year as example. In the blog, I am responding to the prompt, "What is the title of what you are reading? How does it fit the story?" In one part of my blog, I respond saying, "When Tris takes the test, there is not one clear faction she may belong in, but a few that she could possibly fit into. Because of this, Tris is considered divergent, she is developing in a different path than most people her age, and most people in general." I could've gone into more detail, and possibly used textual evidence. This would help further emphasize that Tris really fits the title of the story. I could've described the result of her test more thoroughly. This would let the reader know that she really did fit into the category of Divergent. Instead I just said that the test didn't show one specific faction that Tris fit into. In my most recent blog post, I responded to the prompt, "What Writer's Techniques have you noticed in the story you are reading?" One way I responded this prompt was, I said, "This is describing in great detail what the Colonel's Mothers trailer looked like, using comparisons, and connections. John Green, when not describing thoughts and actions through Miles "Pudge" Halters Point of view, he is using dialogue between the characters to convey information and thoughts. Though, he mainly uses long descriptions like the example I provided above (that's not even one of the longest descriptions John Green uses in his writing) when Pudge meets a new person, experiences a new setting (like the Colonel's Mother's trailer) and comes across new observations and thoughts. John Green, I can tell, likes to describe things in great detail, and I think he does this so he can get his point across." As you can see, my response to the question was clearly much lengthier than one of my older responses. Though this response is much more insightful. The blog answers the question with greater detail! I've tried not to be too redundant and just go on a tangent. Though with writing more knowledgeable and understanding blogs, I'm still working on keeping the length to a reasonable quantity. I need to work on keeping my writing more "under control" (if you know what I mean). I've seen improvement with my writing, but I still need to improve my tactics to make sure I can achieve the best blog I can. Maybe I can still keep some of my old techniques of my blogs, (keeping things decently short and to the point) to help make my blogs in the future, higher quality.
I believe that my writing has also progressed from my blogs from last year, through word
choice. I feel that I use more sophisticated words and phrases so my responses are more complex. In my blog from this time last year, the most advanced words I used were, outcast, and initiate. Those words aren't even very perceptive, or complex! In my most recent blog post, I used words like jovial, intellectual, fascination, intrigued, convey, witty, refined, philosophy, apprehension, and pursue. Some of these words I could even have chosen better alternatives for! In example, for witty, I could have used a word like waggish. This would challenge myself even more to write higher level. Considering I've been really focusing on word choice in my writing, I know I can personally see an improvement! I know that I have to start writing with a higher vocabulary, and I feel like I can see a big change from last year. I think overall my writing has become more elaborate, and mature. I know I still have a lot to work on as well! Even this blog, I feel, has somewhat improved from my last! At this rate, hopefully my blogs will become pretty stunning by the end of the year!
Pages- 85-125
Prompt- What Writer's Techniques have you noticed in the book you are reading?
I've noticed quite a few Writing Techniques used in Looking For Alaska By: John Green. I've also noticed that many of the techniques he uses, are similar to one's he uses in his other books. One big Technique that John Green uses is through the style of his writing. He uses suspense in multiple places, that you may not even look at as suspenseful. Certain passages cause you to wonder what it is that what he is writing means. We can see a form of suspense, in the title of each chapter. Every chapter is titled like, "148 Days Before," "77 Days Before," "16 Days Before," and so on and so forth. He's creating suspense because John Green is not telling us, what these days are leading up to! I honestly can't wait until I get past all of the days leading up to! I want to see what event will happen at the end of them all! Because we don't know what is going to happen at the end, it causes you to want to keep reading. You just want to find out what happens! It's especially suspenseful, exciting and almost nerve racking when you are getting close to the end of the "Days Before" Chapters. You're getting so close to finding out what is going to happen. Also, I think that John Green create suspense through the characters. He does this especially through Alaska. He ends a lot of chapters with quotes or thoughts from the characters, but doesn't provide reaction to what they've said or thought. It makes us want to know and learn more about the character. We want to know why they feel this way, and why they act the way they do. We also want to know why they would say what they said! For example, at the end of chapter, "110 Days Before," the very last line, said by Alaska, is, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." The chapter just ends like that! No other character responded to it in any way. The next chapter doesn't even acknowledge it! It just makes you wonder, why does she smoke to die? What had happened to her, to cause her to want to die? Why would she ever have these thoughts when she has so much going for her? It just creates this new "fascination" with the story. It makes you want to keep reading, so hopefully you'll find out why she, "Smokes to die". John Green definitely keeps us intrigued with his writing. His Writing Technique of Style through suspense, is very clever!
Another Writing Technique I believe John Green uses is through word choice. Through word choice, he is able to set the tone. He uses a very sophisticated vocabulary to convey the different tones of the story. The different tones include serious, bitter, jovial, sarcastic, intellectual, etc. The tone changes throughout the story left and right. The characters go from feeling joyful; everything is great! They are satisfied with themselves and life. Then all of a sudden they become more bitter about situations they are in. The story has a lot of "mood swings" to say the least. This greatly affects the tone. Though, the tone is able to be conveyed in a more knowledgeable, witty, mature way. This helps to create a better idea of the feeling of the novel. For example, we can see that the book has an intellectual tone when Alaska says, "Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future, the escape the present." Now, this quote isn't completely full of a more "refined" word choice. Though I believe if John used different words in place of certain ones, it wouldn't have the same affect. It wouldn't have the same intellectual, and Insightful tone. Nostalgia is a sentimental wanting for the past. A Labyrinth is a maze. The story wouldn't be the same if John Green would have just written that you spend your whole life stuck in a maze. It wouldn't be the same is John just said the future is just a wanting of the past. The quote wouldn't create the same effect of sounding sophisticated and scholarly. It's also the way that John Green words his writing! This quote really makes you think deeper into the story, and deeper about life itself. We spend our whole life stuck in this labyrinth. The thought of breaking out of it one day, just keeps you wanting to get out. Though, no one ever seems to pursue what they want. You're just using that thought to escape the future. It really helps us to see who Alaska really is. It also shows us that John Green writes with great philosophy and apprehension. That's how we can see that one of John Green's Writing Techniques is using an advanced vocabulary. As well as "wording" phrases and thoughts different ways. This is to convey the tone of the story and the intellectual thoughts and ideas of the characters.
The last Writing Technique that I believe John Green uses is Descriptive writing. This is a part of his purpose, using detailed information to explain the story. In one of the more recent chapters I read, it says, "The Colonel's mom lived In a trailer, as in the kind of thing you might see attached to a large pickup truck, except this one was old and falling apart on its old cinder blocks, and probably couldn't have been hooked up to a truck without disintegrating. It wasn't even a particularly big trailer. The place was one really long room, with a full sized bed in the front, a kitchenette, and a living area in the back with a TV and a small bathroom--so small that in order to take a shower, you pretty much had to sit on the toilet." This is describing in great detail what the Colonel's Mothers trailer looked like. He does this by using comparisons, and connections. John Green, does not always describe the thoughts and actions through Miles "Pudge" Halters Point of view. He also uses dialogue between the characters to convey information and thoughts. Though, he mainly uses long descriptions like the example I provided above. That's not even one of the longest descriptions John Green uses in his writing! He usually uses large descriptions when Pudge meets a new person. Or, when he experiences a new setting (like the Colonel's Mother's trailer). John Green also uses exquisite detail when Pudge comes across new observations and thoughts. John Green, I can tell, likes to describe things in great detail. I think he does this so he can get his point across. If John Green were to just say the Colonel's Mother's trailer was run down, then it would have a different affect. We wouldn't be able to picture what he was thinking of when he wrote about the trailer. With the description provided, we are able to get a clearer image of what John was trying to convey! I find the story more easy to follow in that respect. I always know exactly what's going on. This is because John Green will describe the characters, and the setting, and what's going on, so well. That's why I believe that one of John Green's Writing Techniques is using Descriptive writing. He uses such amazingly detailed information to explain the story and what is going on.
