Thursday, February 20, 2014

Blogging Final Assessment Answers to Questions

*Answers refer to "Insurgent" Post

1.   What specific words/phrases demonstrate your writer’s voice? How / why do these words/phrases showcase your personality as a writer?

I demonstrated my writer’s voice when I said, “I’ve finally started reading Insurgent, it took me a while to get the book and find time to read because I’ve been so busy with schoolwork and volunteering at the animal shelter.” This quote shows my writer’s voice because I am giving a personal experience, which makes my post more interesting to read and helps show who I am. I also demonstrated my writer’s voice when I said, “Even though this setting may only be temporary, I like the change of scenery.” This is an example of how I demonstrated my writer’s voice in this post because I am sharing my own personal thoughts about the book, which makes the post more conversational and less like an assignment.

2.     What purposeful diction AND syntax choices did you make to enhance your writer’s voice? You must choose to discuss at least one diction AND one syntax technique from the list below. Make sure to include textual evidence from your post where you included the diction and syntax choices you discuss.

One of the purposeful diction choices that I made to enhance my writer’s voice was to use denotation. I used this technique when I said, “…I've been so busy with school work and volunteering at the animal shelter.“ The inclusion of denotation enhances my writer’s voice because it gave the reader of the blog explicit details about my life and would make them feel like they knew me. Another purposeful diction choice that I made to enhance my writer’s voice was using low/informal diction, which made my post easier to read and more relatable. I used low/informal diction throughout the post, but a sentence that best shows this is, “So far I like the book, though I’m not very far yet.” A purposeful syntax choice that I made to enhance my writer’s voice was the inclusion of an exclamation point when I said, “People have told me that they really like this book and some have even said that it is better than Divergent!” When I included this exclamation point it enhanced my writer’s voice by reflecting my enthusiasm about Divergent and how good it is.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Midway Thoughts on Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I started reading Insurgent about a week ago. I am really getting into it. When I finished Divergent I could not wait to start the next book to find out what would happen next. Two hundred and fifty pages into the book and a lot has happened. After narrowly escaping the Erudite at the Amity headquarters, Tris and her comrades found the factionless and took refuge there. Tobias's mother asked him to help the factionless usurp Erudite and take over the government. Then Tris and her comrades left the factionless and went to the Candor headquarters where they were attacked by the traitor Dauntless, who sided with Erudite.

**Spoiler Alert** The author has introduced a few new characters, but the one that I think will play a major role is Tobias's mother, Evelyn.  I am not sure at this point if Evelyn is a good or a bad person.  However, Tris does not like her so far. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book because so far it is really good and interesting. I can't wait to finish this book so that I can move on to Allegiant see what happens at the end of the series.

If any of you have read this book, what did you think of it?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Insurgent

I've finally started reading Insurgent, it took me a while to get the book and find time to start reading because I've been so busy with schoolwork and volunteering at the animal shelter. So far I like the book, though I'm not very far yet. People have told me that they really like this book and some have even said that it is better than Divergent! I'm curious as to how the story will develop. I am also curious if the author will introduce any new characters. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this book and moving on to the next and final book in the series, Allegiant.


The setting for this book so far is at the Amity farms on the outskirts of the city. Tris describes their surroundings when they arrived at the Amity headquarters, "My feet sink into the ground, and above me, the branches grow into one another, forming a kind of tunnel. Dark fruit hangs among the leaves, ready to drop. The sharp, sweet smell of rotting apples mixes with the scent of wet earth in my nose" (Roth 4). Tris was describing the Amity orchards when they first arrived after the final events of Divergent. Even though this setting may only be temporary, I like the change of scenery. I wonder how long they will stay here.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

My Thoughts on Divergent

I finally finished the book, Divergent. I really enjoyed reading it. The book really picked up in chapter 19, so much so that I read the rest of it (250 pages) in one day.  I thought the book was very good and I really want to read the next book, Insurgent.  There was an excerpt of the next book in the back of this book and the excerpt made me very intrigued to read it.

I think that anyone who enjoys fast-paced, action packed, sci-fi style stories would enjoy reading Divergent.  Personally, I thought the book was really good because it kept my interest through out the book and did not slow down too much.  The plot was good and the characters were relatable and likable. I would give this book four out of five stars. I gave it four stars because I thought it was a really good book, but it wasn't the best book I've ever read. Overall, I thought it was a really good book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes these kind of books.