Literacy Blog #10

Chapter 5

1. Virgil's boss back in Pasadena, California gave him permission to work with them on the case. When Gillespie drives to pick Virgil up back from his walk to the train station, he was acting kinder than before because he is patiently waiting for the day that Tibbs will fail the case.
2. Virgil is patient as usual when Gillespie yells at him to get out of the case. He exits by saying "Good morning, Chief Gillespie," (pg. 45) and quietly gets up and exits the room. Once he's in the lobby he asks for a ride to the train station, but drops the idea when the secretary states that he must have permission from the chief to drive him there.
3. Frank Shubert was the mayor of Wells before George Endicott was. Now, he runs a hardware store and owns two gas stations. Frank Shubert thinks that Virgil Tibbs will fail to solve this case. If he does, he will fall back and take the blame himself to the town so that he will not look bad. Frank persuades him by saying that whatever happens he will win and the whole town will be on his side.
4. a) Gillespie's "comment" was obviously rude, and I understand that it was based in America's racist time period. Now, though, it's understood that black people don't have any different smell than from anyone else.

b) I understood Virgil's metaphor. Jack the Ripper is a famous serial killer in England that has never been found. This proves that Virgil Tibb's is obedient towards his boss' orders, and he will do anything to fulfil those orders.
c) Virgil is a smart man. He knows that they are using him as a backup plan. They think if they fail, Virgil will step up to take the blame, so that they do not look back for the town.
d) Mr. Tibbs does not want to stand out in the small town, especially in a racist town such as Wells.
e) I am not sure what their conversation was specially about and what he was trying to imply within it. I searched "San Quentin" up, and it is a state prison. I think that Virgil did some serious work at that prison and he is caught some big criminals in California.
5. Mrs. Endicott is polite and treats him like any other human. Upon meeting Virgil Tibbs, she immediately shook his hand as she welcomed him and Sam Wood into her home. This is how normal people formally greet each other in person. The book is set just after racism was not as "popular". Mr. and Mrs. Endicott are from the Northern states, where they accepted blacks as much as they accepted whites unlike the south. South Carolina is part of the "southern states" meaning that blacks were not accepted as others were. Many people today still disagree with society's approval of "coloured people".
6. Eric Kauffman is "Mantoli's associate and manager." (pg. 52) He claims that he was to report to Atlanta the morning of the next day, so he started to drive on the road at 10pm.
7. Sam is quite protective and caring of Duena's emotional and physical health. Duena wants to know everything even if it hurts, she's truthful to herself and others. She is proper about the way she sits and walks. She knows what goes on around her. In conclusion, she is honest and aware.
8. Virgil is officially on the Mantoli murder case. Sam Wood is in the process of developing a relationship with Duena Mantoli.

Literacy Blog #9

1) Who is Sam Wood?
Sam Wood is the small town of Wells night time cop.
2) Describe his character.
He seems caring of others, but wishes to b treated with much respect.
3) Who is the woman that is naked in the window?
Delores Purdy.
4) Who is working at the Diner?
I do not remember. All that I read was that he was a nineteen-year-old boy.
5) What racist comment does he make about black people?
He says that when you fight/wrestle black people, it's better to fight them as if they were an animal. He also said that black people have a higher pain tolerance.
6) What is the big event coming to the city?
A music festival.
7) What is the name of the city?
Wells, South Carolina.
8) Who was killed (name)?
Martino? Maltino? Maltomino?

Literacy Blog Post #8

For the Reality TV project, I'm working with Sydney. Here's our brainstorming:
- Alpaca vs. Llama
It's similar to the Amazing Race, but the contestants have to either ride alpacas or llamas to their given destination where they will find clues to advance to the next round. The grand prize will be a new car. We came up with this idea because alpacas and llamas are very similar and we both find them funny. It will be on Global TV, before or after prime time.
- Ostrich Travels
Basically, the two of us will travel the world on our ostriches being interrupted by daily problems in foreign countries. This show would be definitely unique for all audience ages. I think it would be seen on a channel like Spike.
- Pancake Wars
This show is where contestants will have to build a building, monument, or place (chosen out of a hat) with pancakes.  With each round, one group will be disqualified and the rest will advance. The prize will be free pancakes for a year provided by Perkins. This would show on food network, before prime time.
- Groovy Juvies
A new and exciting show where juvenile delinquents will have to compete in a dance competition to win their way out of jail. This will show on A&E during late prime time.

How Google Docs can help us.

Google Docs can help me by making it easier to export documents/presentations. It will be easier for school related things. There isn't always a USB around, so in replacement I know I can use Google Docs to edit it anywhere I am able to access the internet. It will definitely help for group projects/assignments. If you're sick at home during school, you can still interact and do your part in the project while your partners are at school. It would be as if you were actually there, but you’re not. Over the weekend, you can schedule a time to all work on the assignment. There are really no excuses to not be able to attend at that time. In this time in our world, the majority of North America has a computer in their household. If you can’t access a computer, you can always go to the library. Teenagers now spend a major amount of their free time in front of a computer monitor and with that allow the internet. Another situation that may seem like a problem is if one of the members of the group is on vacation. If I were in Thunder Bay to attend a wedding, I can still work with others using my grandma’s computer. Last year, my teacher suggested that it’d help our education if we got our teacher to read through our essay before we hand it in, prior to handing it in for the final mark. The teacher and I can read it through together using Google Docs. They could add a few comments here and there and we can see them do it live. The chat system (Google Chat) helps, too. Since everyone in English has a Google Account, there are no excuses for not being able to finish assignments. Without Google Docs, it wouldn't be as easy to transfer and edit documents.

Literary Blog Number 6

Today I commented on the following blogs:

Live Love Laugh (Sarah Bijl)
SydneyMoreau98 (Sydney Moreau)
Infinity (Emily Howarth)
Jessica's Blog (Jessica Marx)
kylagymnast (Kyla Dyck)
canadians30 (Braden Howard)

Literary Blog Number 5

My favourite scene in Catching Fire is when Katniss' dress "catches on fire" while she's twirling it. It was during an interview the night before she was sent into the arena to face her second year of the Hunger Games. All tributes, who were previously victors in past Hunger Games, must be interviewed for three minutes by the host Caesar Flickerman. The tribute's interviews go in order from District 1-12. The female tribute goes first, then the male tribute enters the stage. It's shot in a huge studio and is broadcasted live throughout all of Panem. It is mandatory to watch the interviews. By the time Katniss comes out, the audience is a wreck from all their sobbing. Who knew there'd be such a strong bond between the victors and the rest of Panem? The audience begin to cry harder by the sight of Katniss in her designated wedding dress. Katniss and Peeta's wedding was supposed to be spectacular, but it got cancelled because they were entered into the Hunger Games for the second time. Only one of them have the chance to make it out alive. While she's twirling she notices smoke coming from her dress. She continues to twirl because she knows it must be one of her stylist's fascinating tricks. She stops and notices herself on the television screen above. Her white dress has been burned away and replaced by a black, winged dress of the same style. The dress resembles the bird on her iconic pin, a mockingjay. What makes this scene my favourite is the hidden rebellion Katniss' stylist, Cinna put within the idea.

A sketch of what I imagined this scene as (not my sketch)

Literary Blog Number 4

The author Susan Collins writes in first-person in the novel Catching Fire. Susan writing balances well between informal and dialogue. The book is in the future, but they still talk the same. Her sentences vary from simple to compound. The author uses not too much detail but just enough to paint the scene for the audience. For an example, I'm going to quote what Susan wrote while explaining when Cinna (the stylist) turned Katniss' suit for the opening ceremonies "I look down, fascinated, as my ensemble slowly comes to life, first just with a soft golden light but gradually transforming to the orange-red of burning coal. I look as if I have been coated in glowing embers - no, that I am a glowing ember straight from our fireplace. The colours rise and fall, shift and blend, in exactly the way coals do." You can see everything that Katniss Everdeen thinks about, but when she talks to herself in her head, her thoughts go into italics. The book is split into three parts. Part one is entitled "The Spark". Part two is entitled "The Quell". Part three is entitled "The Enemy". There are 27 chapters, and each chapter ends with a cliff hanger making you want to read even further. This book's level of complexity would be suggestive for the seventh grade. Catching Fire is written in chronological order. The Hunger Games was the first book. Catching Fire picks up where The Hunger Games left off at. And Mockingjay is the continuation of Catching Fire.

Literary Blog Number 2

It's the year of the 75th annual Hunger Games. After Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark win the Hunger Games, troubles arises for Katniss. Her relationship with Gale alters. Peeta and Katniss still pretend they're a couple. Panem's Capitol government believe she is not in love with Peeta, that she pulled out those night lock berries not for the sake of love, but for the sake of her planned rebellion against the Capitol. On their Victory Tour when they reach the Capitol, Peeta gets down on one knee in front of the whole nation and asks for Katniss’ hand in marriage. After the Victory Tour, she visits her friend Madge who is the daughter of the Mayor of District 12. As she walks past the Mayor’s empty office, she notices the TV has turned on by itself announcing an update for government eyes only. Katniss learns from reporter that there has been an uprising in District 8. She goes into the woods a few days later and visits a little cottage her and her dad used to share. In the cottage, there are two people gathered around a fire. One woman and one girl about the age of 15 named Bonnie and Twill, both from District 8, They tell her they’re in search for the abandoned District 13. Next her wedding dress photo shoot arrives. All of Panem watch the mandatory programming that night, where they announce that the Capitol gets to vote on their favourite dress that she must wear for her wedding, and the Quarter Quell surprise. Every 25 years for the Hunger Games there is “a glorified version of the Games” (Collins, 171). This year is their third Quarter Quell in which the District’s must send in two of their victors, one man and one woman. In District 12, there are two existing male victors, Peeta and their mentor Haymitch, and one female victor, Katniss. Katniss will be going back into the arena.

Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist and the narrator of the novel, Catching Fire. In the books, Katniss is described with black hair, grey eyes, and olive skin.  In the part of District 12 the family lives in is called "the Seam". Katniss fits in quite well. Since Katniss' mother is not from the Seam, her and Prim have golden blonde hair and blue eyes. Katniss' father died when she was 11 years old in a mine explosion. Katniss' mother went into depression which caused Katniss to take lead for the family. She began to trade illegally at the black market, The Hob, and hunt in the woods using the skills her father taught her before he died. She is well-known throughout District 12 before the Hunger Games since she provides food for some of the residents. Hunting outside of the fence surrounding District 12 is forbidden but is often overlook by Peacekeepers and the mayor. Katniss signed up for tessera giving her grain and oil for each family member. When you sign up for tessera you’re name will be put in once for each family member. She refuses to allow Prim to put her name in for tessera because Katniss doesn’t want Prim to go into the Games at all. When Prim’s name got called out Katniss immediately volunteered to take her sister’s place in the Games. She is hard driven to keep her family and others alive. Katniss is presented as “The Girl on Fire” to Panem. In the opening ceremonies for the Hunger Games, her and Peeta were on fire. Their stylists, Cinna and Portia, wanted District 12 to be remembered as they are always dressed as coal miners.

Catching Fire has multiple locations. The novel begins in Katniss’ new home in the Victor’s Village. She moved houses because she and Peeta are now Victors of the Hunger Games. The new house is huge and magnificent, like a mansion. Next they go on their Victory Tour that moves across the nation of Panem. First they visit District 11, where she meets Thresh and Rue’s (tributes in the 74th Hunger Games) families, and gives a speech about the two tributes. The Victory tour continues without any problems. Once they reach the Capitol, they go onto the same stage as when they were interviewed before and after the Games. The next big location they visit is in the arena. Peeta and Katniss were chosen to participate in the 75th Hunger Games. Last year’s Hunger Games were in the woods. This year, it’s in the jungle/sea. The arena is circular and takes a dome shape. It’s surrounded by invisible force fields to prevent the tributes from leaving the arena or committing suicide. Katniss figures this out with the help of other tributes, Wiress and Beetee. The first setting reminds me of those neighborhood’s around the city that have those fancy higher income houses. My friend lives in one of those houses and that was where I pictured Katniss’ house. I can picture the arena really clearly. I imagine the jungle to be like the mountains in Taiwan, green everywhere. Also, looking like the jungle in The Jungle Book. The sea would be bright blue and open with the tribute’s plates forming a huge circle.

ALL ABOUT ME

I'm Sarah Baxter. My friends say I'm hilarious, smart, compassionate, trustworthy, modest, and selfless. My mother and father are both hilarious together. I love to sing. Music expresses my emotions. I love listening to One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Conor Maynard, Cher Lloyd and Little Mix. Nicki Minaj is a huge one at the moment because my dad thinks she's awesome. Demi Lovato is my inspiration. Demi is so strong and for her to be able to overcome such a huge struggle is incredible. I don't have a favourite food because I like anything edible. Although, my favourite dessert is chocolate cheesecake. My favourite colour is purple, my room is purple. I am the queen and I dislike peasants. I'm not a huge fan of country music, but I'll listen to it if there's nothing else to listen to. I don't like it very much when people hate on my favourite artists. I hate hate in general. "I just wish we can all get along like we used to in middle school. I wish that I could just bake a cake made out of rainbows and smiles, and we'd all eat and be happy."

Introduction

Hey there. This is my blog where I document my responses to the book I'm reading. At the moment, I'm reading the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy entitled Catching Fire. I've read The Hunger Games five times. This is my third time reading Catching Fire. And I've read Mockingjay once. I just started the 11th chapter today. I'll begin posting very soon.