Eric Ma http://thewonderfulwizardofma.blogspot.com/
Jessica Zales http://jayz17.blogspot.com/
Jazmin Alvarado http://rbylinbynt.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Books & Nooks
In order to prepare for the anticipated diversity of the Readers' Choice material, the high school invested in Simple Touch Nooks, e-readers.The nooks make the range of choices and our demanding schedule possible; however, my classmates and I have experienced some setbacks with the new technology.
The school provides nooks to its students so that they are capable of having access to their desired material quickly. The simplicity of buying literary works for about $7.99 and having 500 pages instantly download and be ready to read within a minute is superb. The nooks erase the difficulty of finding a particular book in a store or the time and hassle of ordering from Amazon. This fast and convenient feature is especially helpful on reading days in class when I have not previously gotten my book, but can download the work walking into class and still be productive. Nooks have expanded my reading material possibilities, improved my book buying experience, and reduced my expenses.
Still, my classmates and I have experienced some setbacks using the nooks. Initially, setting up and programming the nooks was confusing for the entire class; however, with time, we all found the nooks to be quite intuitive. Downloading books from the school's wifi is flawless and quick, but outside of school I have found wifi connectivity unreliable or impossible. One of the first weekends with the nooks I planned to download The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, but could not start my reading until Monday because the wifi would not connect. My reading experience has not been negatively impacted by using a nook and enjoy taking home one fewer book for homework.
Despite some flaws, the use of nooks for Readers' Choice was a progressive decision that exposed students to new technology and alternate studying methods that maybe helpful in the future. Personally, the limitations on the nook do not belittle the reading experience in any considerable measure and those who prefer books find their copies easily with a little extra work.
The school provides nooks to its students so that they are capable of having access to their desired material quickly. The simplicity of buying literary works for about $7.99 and having 500 pages instantly download and be ready to read within a minute is superb. The nooks erase the difficulty of finding a particular book in a store or the time and hassle of ordering from Amazon. This fast and convenient feature is especially helpful on reading days in class when I have not previously gotten my book, but can download the work walking into class and still be productive. Nooks have expanded my reading material possibilities, improved my book buying experience, and reduced my expenses.
Still, my classmates and I have experienced some setbacks using the nooks. Initially, setting up and programming the nooks was confusing for the entire class; however, with time, we all found the nooks to be quite intuitive. Downloading books from the school's wifi is flawless and quick, but outside of school I have found wifi connectivity unreliable or impossible. One of the first weekends with the nooks I planned to download The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, but could not start my reading until Monday because the wifi would not connect. My reading experience has not been negatively impacted by using a nook and enjoy taking home one fewer book for homework.
Despite some flaws, the use of nooks for Readers' Choice was a progressive decision that exposed students to new technology and alternate studying methods that maybe helpful in the future. Personally, the limitations on the nook do not belittle the reading experience in any considerable measure and those who prefer books find their copies easily with a little extra work.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Most Spectacular Show on Earth
One of our final assignments for Readers' Choice is to read an "out of your comfort zone" book, a book from an unfamiliar or unappealing genre. The goal of this assignment is to expose high school students to new subjects, expand their horizons, and spark their interest in something they otherwise would not have experienced.
A purely historical fiction and adventure reader myself, romance novels did not reside on my bookshelf; however, I was still excited to read the wildly acclaimed Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. My previous experiences reading romance had been entirely dull with chapters dedicated to exploring emotions and possible actions before vetoing the entire plan and spontaneously falling in love and ending happily ever after. Yet, when even my guy friends proclaimed Water for Elephants a must read book I knew this book must offer more content and depth than most romances.
Water for Elephants follows the journey of a young Jacob Jankowski from the point of view of the elderly protagonist. Jacob Jankowski was about to finish his last year of veterinarian school at Cornell University when he learns of both his parents' deaths, which triggers a mental breakdown and encourages him to abandon school and runaway. Upon running away, Jacob joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a train circus, and becomes a valued member of the crew as their ivy league veterinarian, taking care of lions, tigers, and horses. Jacob and the main attraction, Marlena, begin a quiet relationship over horses; however, their love grows when the circus gains its finest member, Rosie, a Polish speaking elephant. The twists and secrecy of Jacob and Marlena's relationship exhibit their ambition for a better life and passion to help others despite the risks or consequences.
I enjoyed reading Water for Elephants because of the thrills and excitement circus life provided in the protagonist's complicated love triangle between Marlena, Rosie, and August. Despite being an "out of comfort zone book", Water for Elephants was packed with adventure and historical references to the Depression time period, which I enjoyed and helped me assimilate into this new genre. In the future, I will continue to read books with romance in them; however, I am not convinced to seek out romance novels, in particular. Romance is a naturally a part of every story, but is not a part I enjoy focusing on; although, I enjoyed this experience in Readers' Choice. I may read any of the books recommended on the following website by other readers who also do not typically enjoy romance. http://www.examiner.com/article/10-best-romantic-novels-for-people-who-hate-romance
A purely historical fiction and adventure reader myself, romance novels did not reside on my bookshelf; however, I was still excited to read the wildly acclaimed Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. My previous experiences reading romance had been entirely dull with chapters dedicated to exploring emotions and possible actions before vetoing the entire plan and spontaneously falling in love and ending happily ever after. Yet, when even my guy friends proclaimed Water for Elephants a must read book I knew this book must offer more content and depth than most romances.
Water for Elephants follows the journey of a young Jacob Jankowski from the point of view of the elderly protagonist. Jacob Jankowski was about to finish his last year of veterinarian school at Cornell University when he learns of both his parents' deaths, which triggers a mental breakdown and encourages him to abandon school and runaway. Upon running away, Jacob joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a train circus, and becomes a valued member of the crew as their ivy league veterinarian, taking care of lions, tigers, and horses. Jacob and the main attraction, Marlena, begin a quiet relationship over horses; however, their love grows when the circus gains its finest member, Rosie, a Polish speaking elephant. The twists and secrecy of Jacob and Marlena's relationship exhibit their ambition for a better life and passion to help others despite the risks or consequences.
I enjoyed reading Water for Elephants because of the thrills and excitement circus life provided in the protagonist's complicated love triangle between Marlena, Rosie, and August. Despite being an "out of comfort zone book", Water for Elephants was packed with adventure and historical references to the Depression time period, which I enjoyed and helped me assimilate into this new genre. In the future, I will continue to read books with romance in them; however, I am not convinced to seek out romance novels, in particular. Romance is a naturally a part of every story, but is not a part I enjoy focusing on; although, I enjoyed this experience in Readers' Choice. I may read any of the books recommended on the following website by other readers who also do not typically enjoy romance. http://www.examiner.com/article/10-best-romantic-novels-for-people-who-hate-romance
Monday, May 27, 2013
Readers' Choice
For the second half of my senior year, I chose to take my high school's new english class, "Readers' Choice". As the name implies, the students in the class get to pick their reading material, along certain guidelines, and then apply the school assignments to their individual choices. The class strives to have its students realize the value and joy of reading, while improving students' writing and reading comprehension.
I fell in love with reading when I first stole my brother's Harry Potter books and read them by flashlight after my 8:30 bedtime. And although I still have my beloved copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone, reading for me now remains mostly in the dull works of McGraw Hill and Campbell. The constrictive nature of the high school reading assignments in conjunction with the constant demand to process fantastic works worth endless conversations into one page essays limited my enjoyment of the most appreciated works, such as The Great Gatsby, Huckleberry Finn, and Streetcar Named Desire. As I plowed through pages of textbooks and examples of great American literature these past few years, my list of must-reads grew without a single page being turned.
Readers' Choice is welcomed variety in my required reading. My initial excitement over this course has proven to be less than what the class deserves. Instead of only having an excuse to read my desired literature, I read books suggested by friends, others topping best seller lists, and those turned into movies. Absorbed in a pop culture society of books, my class (or "book club") debated and shared their favorite scenes and challenged each others' opinions and predictions. Unlike any other English Class, my peers and I are enthused to discuss books and finally understand the special community created by books. Spending the time to understand and reflect on each book by talking with classmates and writing reviews has encouraged us to consider the message of our books and apply those lessons to our own lives or understand someone else's situation.
When my class voted to read Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, I was less than excited. However, by our first discussion I was as passionately involved in Pat's battle against his mental illness as anyone else. In fact, our discussion ran over our class period and had to be finished the next day. By the end of the book, I felt my tolerance for things I did not understand expand because of the introspective journey my class and I took lead by Pat Peoples and his recuperating sanity.
The ability to pick what we read has encouraged students to actually read. By reading about subjects that speak to us, instead of the board of education, we understand the value of reading and establish healthy reading habits. Readers' Choice has breathed life into the fire Harry Potter started and textbooks almost stomped out.
I fell in love with reading when I first stole my brother's Harry Potter books and read them by flashlight after my 8:30 bedtime. And although I still have my beloved copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone, reading for me now remains mostly in the dull works of McGraw Hill and Campbell. The constrictive nature of the high school reading assignments in conjunction with the constant demand to process fantastic works worth endless conversations into one page essays limited my enjoyment of the most appreciated works, such as The Great Gatsby, Huckleberry Finn, and Streetcar Named Desire. As I plowed through pages of textbooks and examples of great American literature these past few years, my list of must-reads grew without a single page being turned.
Readers' Choice is welcomed variety in my required reading. My initial excitement over this course has proven to be less than what the class deserves. Instead of only having an excuse to read my desired literature, I read books suggested by friends, others topping best seller lists, and those turned into movies. Absorbed in a pop culture society of books, my class (or "book club") debated and shared their favorite scenes and challenged each others' opinions and predictions. Unlike any other English Class, my peers and I are enthused to discuss books and finally understand the special community created by books. Spending the time to understand and reflect on each book by talking with classmates and writing reviews has encouraged us to consider the message of our books and apply those lessons to our own lives or understand someone else's situation.
When my class voted to read Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, I was less than excited. However, by our first discussion I was as passionately involved in Pat's battle against his mental illness as anyone else. In fact, our discussion ran over our class period and had to be finished the next day. By the end of the book, I felt my tolerance for things I did not understand expand because of the introspective journey my class and I took lead by Pat Peoples and his recuperating sanity.
The ability to pick what we read has encouraged students to actually read. By reading about subjects that speak to us, instead of the board of education, we understand the value of reading and establish healthy reading habits. Readers' Choice has breathed life into the fire Harry Potter started and textbooks almost stomped out.
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