Divergent - Compare & Contrast

Divergent

Divergent is an amazing book by Veronica Roth. The book takes place in a post-war Chicago. The main character, and the narrator of the book, was Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley). She is sixteen and has blonde hair, a narrow face, and a long, thin nose. She lives with her brother, mom, and dad. Her brother's name is Caleb (Ansel Elgort) and  her parent's names' are Natalie (Ashley Judd) and Andrew (Tony Goldwyn). Another main character in the book is Four, a masculine and good looking guy. The book's citizens are split up into five factions: Erudite, Abnegation, Candor, Amity, and Dauntless. Each faction represents a different personality type. Citizens that turn sixteen take a test that tells them what faction they would best fit in but they can choose whichever faction regardless of the test results. After they have chosen their faction they have to stay in their faction until they die. If they want to get out of the faction, they will become factionless or as we would call it, homeless. Tris was Abnegation but transfers into Dauntless, she meets lots of different people and makes a couple loyal friends. Tris struggles with her choice and has many obstacles to overcome.

Unfortunately, the movie and the book did not have many similarities but they had a few. The factions were represented the same. For example, the factions wore the same clothes that represented their faction. Also, the Choosing Ceremony was the same. They had each individual come up and drop some of their blood into the faction of their choosing. Another similarity is that Tris got the 3 crows on her collarbone for each family member she left behind. 

The book and the movie had many differences. A huge difference between the two was the fighting stage of initiation. In the book Peter beat Tris and after Tris beat Molly. Tris also fought another very weak girl and beat her as well but in the movie Tris never beat Molly or fought Peter and the other weak girl. In the book, beating Molly was a big accomplishment that helped Tris in the rankings a ton. That win also boosted Tris's confidence making her more determined to stay Dauntless which is a big part of the book and missing this made the movie less enjoyable.

Another big difference between the book and the movie was that Peter did not stab a knife into Edward's eye. As graphic as it is, this act made the book a million times more intriguing and suspenseful. This also shows how competitive and scary the Dauntless faction actually is. It symbolizes the jealousy, competitiveness, and helplessness of the Dauntless initiates.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the book more than I did the movie. I liked the book better because it showed the gruesome and awful facts about what happens when people are put to the test that determines the outcome their life. Even though I did like the book better, the movie had many great actors and actresses that played the parts very well. 

The Great Gatsby Lesson

Emily Avdem

Ms. Fordahl

The Great Gatsby

14 February 2014

5. Don't critique others

The Great Gatsby is an amazing book full of life lessons. Some are hidden in the words and some seem to slap you in the face. Either way, it gets you thinking. One of the biggest issues in the world is judgement. People have to be a certain way or else you will be judged. One lesson in The Great Gatsby that spoke to me was, don't critique others. A passage from the book that emphasizes this lesson is,

"I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it came about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men." 

In my essay I am going to talk about why it is important to "reserve all judgements." I am also going to talk about the book and when Nick, the narrator of the book, kept an open mind which led him to finding someone you only find once in a lifetime. Lastly, I will talk about my own experiences with judgement. 

This world goes through many changes from style to schools. From technology to architecture, but one thing that hasn't changed is judgement. Even long ago people were separated into categories and if you weren't in "top class" or even "middle class" you were nothing. You were judged for what you had and what you did not have. You were judged by the color of your skin and by the way you talked. If someone is born into wealth, who are they to say that the unwealthy people are not worthy? Even if someone works hard for their money, who are they to say the unwealthy people do not work just as hard? That is the nasty thing about this world, we all judge each other. We judge each other from what we see on the surface or from what we hear from others, that we do not get to know a person for who they actually are.

In The Great Gatsby, Nick is thrown into the decade of money and lies. He has to decide who is real and who just wants to get what they want. Nick did not care about the money and was an honest person. He was open minded to the rich people and gave them chances after chances to show their real selves. He knew when one was lying or when one was being truthful. Even after Gatsby gave Nick reason to believe he was a rich man with many secrets and who could never tell the truth, he still kept an open mind. This trait gives Nick a great friend and many life lessons. Nick was the only one who seemed to know the real Gatsby and Gatsby was a diamond hidden among synthetic stones.

In my experience with judgement, you cannot let what others tell you be your only reason for not liking someone or "judging" someone. The quote, "Judging someone does not show who they are, it only shows who you really are." This quote is true, you can judge someone and be completely wrong about who they are but it does show how much of a close-minded person you are. I have judged and realized that I missed out on great people. 

In conclusion, diversity and individuality keeps our world interesting, but if we were all the same judgement would no longer be an issue. We could all see what is below the surface. We could too, find that diamond among synthetic stones. 

Same-sex Marriage - English Essay

Same-sex Marriage 

“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; a common wedding vow. Nowhere, does it say, love cannot exist between two of the same-sex. In my essay, I am going to tell you why same-sex marriage should be legal in all states. Second, I will give you examples on why marriage seems to be comical to people. Lastly, I will tell you some positive effects of legalizing same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage be legal because love is meant to be celebrated no hidden. 

Same-sex marriage should be legal in all states because one cannot help who one loves. Love is something that should be celebrated not hidden. A couple of the same-sex feel the same emotions a heterosexual couple would: happiness, sadness, and most importantly, love. Same-sex couples are a lot like heterosexual ones, they just look different. That’s the thing about the world, the world is afraid of change. If some are brave enough to be different, why should we discriminate them? 

Marriage is portrayed as a big deal. It is supposed to be taken seriously. How can one take marriage seriously when one can go to Vegas and get married to someone they just met. Elvis can marry you one night and the next day you are signing divorce papers. Another example of why marriage is looked at as comical is because one can get married and have it only last seventy-two days and then get divorced. If marriage is such a big commitment, then why is getting divorced such an easy thing to do? Divorce is such an easy option because people like an easy way out of tough situations. The next example is that one may get married as many times as they please. By the end of one’s life one could be married twenty times. How is it okay for those things to happen but a homosexual couple who have been together for seven years cannot get married? People may not believe it but change can be a good thing. 

Some positive effects of legalizing same-sex marriage are states who have since legalized same-sex marriage have decreased divorce rates. Massachusetts’s divorce rate decreased twenty-one percent after they legalized same-sex marriage. Also, if same-sex marriage is legalized this will reduce a lot of discrimination done today. The world loves money, if same-sex marriage is legalized, it would bring around $184 million to a state’s economy over just three years. This is possible because more marriage licenses are purchased. Lastly, allowing same-sex marriage would provide a stable home for children who would otherwise be put in a bad place. This would save a lot more children from abuse, diseases, and possibly disorders. 

In conclusion, love has no rules or conditions. The world is welcoming change every single day and the legalization of same-sex marriage is soon to happen. The world loves money so legalize it now and get some extra cash. Also, many children would have a stable home. Same-sex marriage is a change for the better, let’s welcome this change. How open-minded are you?

Cyber Bullying - English Essay

Cyber Bullying

Imagine that you are like any teenager these days. You want to have a Twitter and a Facebook account because everyone has one. The only thing getting you through the long school day is knowing you get to go home and check Twitter or Facebook. Now, imagine someone is tormenting and harassing you on Twitter or Facebook. They are calling you awful names and making you cry yourself to sleep multiple nights in a row. Everyone tells you to delete your Twitter but why should you be the one punished? First, I will tell you why teens are so infatuated with social networks. Next, I will tell you why people feel the need to bully someone on social networks. Lastly, I will tell you why social networks should punish the bully, not the bullied. 

8 out of 10 teenagers use some kind of social media. The most important reason why teens are so infatuated with social networks is because they are popular. Celebrities use them and they are advertised everywhere. Teens also like social networks because it is a way to share a humorous video with one’s friends or to wish one’s cousin a happy birthday for everyone to see. It is also a way to express oneself, to express the things one likes and enjoys. One can share something funny that happened to a friend whom needs a laugh. Also, access to humor is available. Social networks has a lot of perks to it but can get to be an unsafe place. Why would someone feel the need to bully someone on the internet?

The easiest way to hurt someone is with words; especially words that everyone hears and can never be erased. A bully enjoys seeing someone else hurt; usually to get away from their own pain for awhile. Also, it gives a bully the satisfaction of having so much emotional power over someone. The internet has so many cyber bullies because they usually don’t get caught or punished. The bully can hide behind a computer and say awful things they would never say to someone’s face. Cyber bullying continues because social networks don’t enforce punishment or consequences enough. Why should social networks punish the bully?

When someone claims to be cyber bullied one’s automatic response is "delete it" or "log off". This is not fair and is not effective. Sure, one can delete their account or log off but all of their friends will still have their account. Deleting your own account does not take you away from the situation, teens are introduced to social networks everyday. Their friends will still inform them on what is being said about them, which does not necessarily take away the problem. Why should an innocent person be punished for doing nothing? Why should they have to delete something that used to make them happy? Another common response is to "block" the bully. This is ineffective because the bully can still see your account and this does not stop them from saying things about you. To stop or reduce cyber bullying, punish the bully. Social networks should delete a bully's account so they won’t be able to bully someone anymore. Sure, one could make another account but if they bully again, they’ll get deleted. Soon, every bully will be punished and the cycle might end. 

-In conclusion, social networks can be a safe place but rules have to be enforced. Bullies have to deal with punishment and consequences, not the bullied. We cannot keep giving the bully power, all need to stand up to them. Everyone needs to say something. What will you do?

Blog Review - English Assignment

Blog Review

I found the blog, Bookalicious Babe, and I enjoyed reading it. Her name on her blog is Ms. Caboo. She blogs book reviews. From her description I could tell that she reads at least once a day or otherwise she gets crabby! In this way, she is just like me! She works at a library because she enjoys reading so much. She also likes cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband. In her reviews she gives her rating of the book and a short description. Also, she tells whether it is worth reading or if she can't wait for a second one! 

I suggest reading her blog if you need advice on which books to spend your time on and which ones to skip!If you want to check it out to go to, http://bookaliciousbabe.blogspot.com/ and enjoy! 

Compare & Contrast - English Assignment

Compare & Contrast 

"Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a book and a film. Both the book and film have the story line that all above average citizens are given handicaps so that everyone is equal at the lowest level. Like every story; someone rebels. The two have many similarities but also many differences. Some big similarities of the book and film are that all the names of the characters were the same. Also, another one was that in the end Harrison danced with the ballerina without weights to rebel. 

Some smaller details that were different between the book and the film were that George was crying instead of Hazel when Harrison's death was on air. Another difference was that Harrison and the ballerina did not kiss the ceiling when they were dancing. The two major differences were that Harrison did not threaten the crowd with a bomb. Also, he did not have a trigger to turn the air back on when it was shut off. In the book the air was never shut off. 

The film and the book were, for the most part, the same and I thought the film captured the most important parts of the book. It was easy to follow along and surprisingly exactly what I had imagined in my head when I was reading the story. I thought this was a good book with an inspiring message. 

Should Teachers Have To Wear Uniforms or Have Dress Codes? - English Essay

Emily Avdem
Ms. Fordahl
English 10
12 November 2013

 

Should Teachers Have To Wear Uniforms or Have Dress Codes?

Imagine that a class is sitting at their desks waiting for their class to begin when their teacher walks in wearing old sweatpants and a stained tank-top. Would you imagine that those students would listen to the teacher or take the teacher seriously? In my essay I am going to tell you what the dress code or uniform should look like or consist of. Next, I will tell you how the dress code or uniform will increase a student’s listening and obedience. Lastly, I will tell you why it is important to dress business-like.

Teachers should be required to have a dress code at school. The dress code should consist of dress pants that do not have holes in them. Also, an appropriate top that isn't too low and doesn't have any inappropriate words or signs on it. The dress code should consist of dresses or skirts but they have to end just above the knee, no shorter. Teachers do have a hard and tiring job so they do deserve some comfortability and because of that on Fridays, teachers can wear jeans. Although, the jeans shouldn't have a ton of rips and holes in them. What can dress pants and a stainless shirt do?

If a teacher does not have authority of their classroom, it is likely that things will not get done and the students will not listen or learn anything. If a teacher is dressed like a student, a student will treat the teacher like one. Vice versa, if a teacher is dressed like a grown up or an authority figure, a student will treat them like one. A student is more likely to listen to a teacher who is wearing a professional-like outfit than a teacher who is dressed sloppy. Also, if students see a teacher dressed professionally they will assume the teacher will take their job seriously, correct papers, and have strict discipline. Why is it so important to have a dress code or to dress professionally?

Like most other jobs, you have to dress professionally during work hours. Statistics say that 93% of executives believe that an employee’s style of dress at work influences his or her chances of promotion. The most jobs that require a professional attire are ones that deal with people throughout their work day. If one is dressed business-like, one could assume that they take their job seriously. It is also said that dressing nice for work can boost your self-confidence level. If one dresses clean, neat, and professional, it shows that one takes pride in himself/herself and their position. Also, when most people get home they change into comfortable clothes to sit around and do nothing. The way you dress affects the way you think, look, and act. When you dress down, one will feel down and most likely not be productive and vice versa.

In conclusion, teachers should have a dress code. Although, they should have a casual day once a week. Having a dress code will increase a student’s listening and obedience because students will look at them as an authority figure. The dress code should consist of dress pants and a nice shirt. Also, dressing professional has a lot of positive effects, including, higher confidence level, better work performance, and respect. Teachers should have a dress code, what do you think?