Close-reading Bingo

1. This person used a stand alone quote. 
"And love was why Brooks walked backwards everyday, guarding our vulnerable rear as we moved."
http://thinking-anonymous.blogspot.com/

2. This person had weakness number one, they should try to avoid the "he says" or in this case "he writes."
In the excerpt from The Mezzanine  by Nicholson Baker, he writes with an elevated refinement that is both dignified and straight-forward.
http://morgan-happygolucky.blogspot.com/

3. They have weakness number 9, by not placing a noun or a noun phrase after the word this.
This gives the impression of a fancy an intimidating lobby. Also, the matter of fact way Baker describes the lobby makes the reader sense that this is somewhere to not be impressed with, its an everyday occurrence.
http://skullandglossbones3.blogspot.com/ 

4. This person violated weakness number 6 by saying using and utilizes in the same sentence.In the excerpt from Cather in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, utilizes a use of simple, but complex vocabulary.
http://barrellxc2012.blogspot.com/

This one is my favorite:)
The colloquial, coarse, and somewhat unmannerly diction in "Catcher in the Rye" exemplifies the narrator's down-to-earth, pissed off at the world personality. His defiant and thick skinned nature jumps out when he explains that all the background information about his life is just "David Copperfield kind of crap" that bores him. As the passage goes on, the author uses phrases like "He's got a lot of dough" and "they're also touchy as hell" to make it feel as though the narrator is just another regular kid who is telling you a story. The terse and all together informal nature of the narrator echoes through the entire passage in this excerpt from "Catcher in the Rye."
 http://jimmehftw.blogspot.com/

Practice Diction Analysis

      In the excerpt from the novel Catcher in the Rye the author starts out with a harsh and condescending tone. He describes the boy’s feelings towards his parents with a negative, abusive and defiant diction. He makes it clear with his word choice that the feelings of the boy are arrogant and bitter towards his parents. He describes them as being nice but too touchy, so they obviously get on his nerves. Therefore, the author uses tone to show the criticism the boy has towards them to a point of no return.

Currently Week 1 Quarter 2

Books I read this week:
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pages this week: 79 (113-192)

Favorite Style Mapping:

1. FROM BECCA'S BLOG: His description of the town of Wall is straightforward and literal - it isn't until later in the book that a more poetic language is developed.
This is post is one of my favorites because she describes it clearly with words that catch your eye. She used different adjectives that most people used.
2. FROM BOOKLOVER17: "Girls are secretive, they destroy you from the inside," qualifies as being straightfoward and harsh, although a little of the truth.
I like the way she described the books with a lot of adjectives that were very descriptive. The way she described the language made me want to read the books!
3. FROM EDDIE: Meridian uses figurative language to also describe his fear of citizenry and uses vast diction to add a old fashion appearance to the novel. I love the way this person described the books, she used the most interesting to read adjectives. This one is probably my favorite!
4. FROM KIM'S CORNER: In Neil's excerpt he writes in a style that is dull and archaic as he describes that stoney features of the town of Wall. I love the adjectives, especially archaic and stoney. She gives great imagery.
5. FROM A SCRAP OF PARCHMENT: Words like "thunderclap" "gnashing" and "hobbled" create a harsh feel to emphasize the bitterness. I love how in depth this person got with the feelings from the book. I love the way they connected.

"Style Mapping"

     My first observation will be from the author Jenny Downham using the book Before I Die. Her language is blunt and familiar. She gets straight to the point in the first sentence let alone the first page. The first sentence grabs your attention. It simply states, I wish I had a boyfriend. It is more harsh than it is musical I would say. My second expert is from the book The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. This book takes place in the 1800's so naturally the diction and language is more formal and musical. Although it can be harsh the language she uses is high and elegant. It is conclusive that her style of writing is high and connotative. My final exerpt was from the novel The Brambles by Eliza Minot. She is a desriptive and inticate writer. She uses a language right off the bat that is scholary and elevated. Even though she uses a high language it has at the same time a hamonious and sweet sound to it. All of these books are so unique, and there are a whole variety of dictions.

Quarterly

This class has opened up my eyes that reading is actually very enjoyable. I used to never read, for fun at least. This class has showed me that when you have a book you always have a friend. When you are involved with a book you become a part of that book. I think of myself as one of the characters watching everything happen from the sidelines. I have suprised myself with how much I am actually reading and I have read books that I can't seem to put down. I have enjoyed this class so much because it pushed me to actually have experiences with reading books that I actually love reading and can't seem to put down. I don't get bored because I get to choose the books to read that I am most interested in. I wish every english class was like this because more kids would love reading in their spare time, like I have done this year. I read most before bed, it's so relaxing and entertaining. It may not be best because sometimes I can't put it down and end up staying up way too late, but hey you only live once. If you're enjoying it, don't stop! That's my theory. I think my goal for this semester would to read a whole variety of books, and push myself to read ones out of my comfort zone. I tend to just read the sappy teen love stories, and I think I would enjoy more books not in that category. I just have to find a good one!

OOPS

THAT LAST CURRENTLY WAS WEEK 6 NOT WEEK 5******

Currently week 5

Pages this week/semester: not sure, turned info in on bookmark
Finished Rules of Attraction
Started The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Sentences of the week!

1. "But you seem to be the young lady most in demand for waltzes tonight." - The Luxe
2. But she kept smiling, of course. It was her habit. - The Luxe
3. This was not the heart-stopping touch that she had been wating for all evening, and it didn't help especially that his style of kissing was akin to mashing one face against another. -The Luxe
All of my sentences this week are from the book I am currently reading, The Luxe. In the first sentence Elizabeth's mother has taken her away from her friends at the ball to dance with all the men who are asking for her. I love how she used the word waltzes because that is not a common word these days and it brings the image of a true ball back in the 1800's to your mind when girls wore the biggest dress they could find. Elizabeth is the most eligible lady of the evening, and many of the men are asking for her. She finds it a little overwhelming. This leads to the second sentence, which is about her feelings toward one of the men she had to dance with. She was not enjoying herself at all, and the man was quite homely and disrespectful. But because Elizabeth was tought such good manners, she smiled and acted as if she was having fun with him. Hiding how she really felt during the dance. The next sentence is about Elizabeth's attention seeking sister, Diana. She was at the same ball as her sister but instead of being the person her sister was with fake smiles and careful manners, she was more of the trouble child. She gave a not to the most attractive man she could find there and told him to meet her in one of the rooms that is private. There she seduced him, but as the sentence demonstrates did not feel a thing between the two of them.

The Luxe

I started a new book this week called The Luxe since I finished my old book last week. It is kinda hard to follow, but yet I can't seem to put it down. The setting is in 1899 so the way people live and communicate is much different than how we live today. The way they talk draws me in because it is so foreign to me grabs my attention immediately. Also, in the first chapter it takes place at 18 year old Elizabeth Holland's funeral. Then the next chapter goes back in time and starts to tell the story of her and her sister Diana. Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with sly smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups all happen within the first chapter. This is Manhattan 1899. Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. But when the girls discover their family's status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to their golden future. Set in a world of luxury and deception, this thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent. Just a little exert from the book, it is so enticing and juicy, I can't wait to see what happens.