Final Blog Assesment

1. Identify and explain the benefit of the quote from the independent reading text within your blog.  Why was this quote chosen?  Please explain how this quote adds value to your conversation within the blog and shows acknowledgement of the art of the short quote, as discussed in class.  Please explain why utilizing only a short quote allowed for a more thoughtful analysis of the text by the writer and a more engaging read by the audience.

In the blog post I chose, "The Most Important Line From the Chapter", I use the strategy called short quote This quote was "'I'm not going to be murdered,' Harry said out loud. 'That's the spirit, dear,' said his mirror sleepily." I chose this quote because even though it doesn't seem like much it means a lot. It's the last sentence in the chapter which means that's what it is ending with. It's important also because it makes us wonder why would he get murdered, who would murder him, and why is his mirror talking to him, it forces us to keep reading and go on through the book. This quotenshows the art of the short quote because it is shorter than most (two sentences), and when you read it your tone is short and finalized because it happens to be at the end of the chapter which makes that part of the story end for a minute making it sound shorter when you read it. The use of the short quote where it is being used is really affective because it forces the reader to really analyze the plot of the story and ponder what happens next and really engages the audience.

2. Identify and discuss purposeful diction AND syntax choices you utilized to enhance your writer’s voice with the blog post. You must choose to discuss at least one diction AND one syntax technique presented in the blog post. For a reminder, please see our recent handout “Diction and Syntax Review.” Make sure to include the specific quotes from your post which illustrate the diction and syntax technique (at least one quote that demonstrates each one) in response to this question.      

One example of diction from the blog post is "This sentence forces us to keep reading because we are so engulfed in the story that we need to know..." The diction example in this sentence is engulfed. This word serves a purpose in the blog post not only to show I have a voice in my writing but also to illustrate how much we get sucked into reading sometimes and the best way to describe it is to use a word such as engulfed. One example of advanced syntax is, "You have to end it with a sentence that makes you want to keep reading and keeps you compelled within the book, wondering, pondering, questioning what's going to happen next so you don't have a choice to keep reading." This syntax strategy is called asydeton and it serves a purpose as well. I chose synonyms to the word wondered because I thought about how much I was thinking about what was going to happen next in the story when I was reading it that saying one word one time wasn't enough. The strategy really helped to get my point across of how much this quote really made me think.

3.  Please, in your own words, identify the technology used in your blog post and explain the benefit of using technology to enhance the conversations within your blog post.  In this particular blog post, please explain how the specific technology piece allows for further thought and consideration by your audience.

The technology used in my own post was information and some background knowledge that you might use before you read the book to refresh your knowledge on the previous novels. I always think this is helpful and usually put in a similar link if it's a long series with a wait in between each book. Just so they can refresh their memory on things they may have forgotten especially right before you are beginning the next book.
Here's the link I used in that particular post.

Here's the link to the blog post I've been referring to.

Predictions for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I'm still somewhat in the beginning of my book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling and I think I could make some predictions on what's going to happen next.

  Where I am now is they are on the train goign to Hogwarts for their third year when the train goes dark and they first suspect a a power outage but Harry hears a squeaking sound and sees a tall cloaked figure. He gets engulfed in the cold from this thing that is later called 'The Dementor' (also the name of the chapter). I think the dementor was looking for Sirius Black, who earlier escaped from Azkaban which is supposedly unescapable, because once Harry woke up Ron was telling him what happened, ""and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.'""  The place I stopped reading was somewhat random but I do have an idea of what's going to happen next.

Previously, I thought that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teach, Professor Lupin, was going to be an enemy, but I have changed my mind to thinking he's actually going to be a good thing for Harry and his friends. But I have been proven wrong before, for instance Professor Quirrel. But I do have a feeling he will be a very important part of the story. Also, for the ending I think the 'battle scene' will be Harry against Sirius Black. Obviously, if we're going to go with the pattern, Lord Voldemort will be teamed up with Black and try to defeat Harry. I suspect that Harry will win since there are four more books.

 Some fun facts on Azkaban

The Ways of the Good and the Evil

I'm still reading Harry Potter and I've started to notice a pattern. As in a lot of books, the good guy wins and the bad guy loses. But in this series Rowling has a specific pattern she writes.

I've started to realize that in the beginning of the book it starts out with Harry at his cousin's house, the Dursley's. It also happens to be his birthday at the beginning of each book. He usually gets letters and gift and a few other minor patterns happen at the beginning but there's one most prominent occurence.He always gets a clue as to what will be his main problem or struggle in the book. In the first one it was just surviving his first year at Hogwarts. In the second book, his main struggle was introduced to him when he was at the Dursley's. Dobby came and warned him not to go to Hogwarts this year. And later we find out Dobby said that because he knew the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again. That became the biggest issue through out the book.I have yet to finish the third book but as it's been going I'm going to guess that it has something to do with Serius Black escaping from Azkaban, and possibly the Dementors and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Relating back to the defeaters and the defeated the pattern there is there's always a journey to get to the battle that Harry usually ends up fighting himself and then the actual battle itself. In the first book Harry battled Lord Voldemort (which also happens to be a pattern with the antagonist) with the help of Professor Quirrell. Ron and Hermione helped him along the journey to get to where he needed to be but ran into a few problems along the way. Hermione's smarts got them past the first barrier of engulfing plants, Ron's chess skills got them passed the second barrier by playing his way to a deadly victory, and Harry's broom skills got them passed the third by catching the correct flying key, and once again Hermione's riddle solving helped him with the final one. And finally got in to where Quirrell and Voldemort were and Harry defeated them. And then in the second book, Ron helps him get down to the depths of the school's pipes to defeat Tom Riddle without Hermione because she's been petrified. Ron gets stopped from an avalanche of rocks and can't go anyfurther. Harry goes on to defeat Tom and save Ginny. There's a trend for the ending as well becausethey are structured quite similarly. If I had to guess I would guess a similar ending to the third book in some way and having to defeat Voldemort once again.

Here's more info about Tom Riddle and his diary

Character Development

Through out the entire Harry Potter series, we see many characters come and go. One in which we see often in the books is Hermione Granger. I am going to look at the character's development in each of the novels and how she was when she first met Harry to now in the third book.

At first in the very first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Hermione comes in and presents herself as snobby and stuck up, helping Neville look for his pet. Even Rowling describes her with a rude 'Know-It-All' sort of stature.Like when she first introduces her, "She had a bossy sort of voice , lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth." (pg. 105) This quote tells us how Harry and Ron first feel about Hermione which is important for us to see how the characters do develop.

In the second and third book, and even the first book, we see that they come to like Hermione and welcome her into their "group". We see this for example in the third book, "Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card, and a letter, this time from Hermione." this quote shows that Hermione really does care for Harry and vice versa.

These quotes just support how Hermione has grown as a character as we read the books. And that a character that we learn to really dislike at first can turn out to be one of our favorites.

http://www.hypable.com/harry-potter/character-profiles-hermione-granger/

Here's a website on everything you need or want to know about Hermione Granger.

The Most Important Line From the Chapter

I'm finally making progress through my book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling. And I've started to notice a trend at the end of each chapter which also happens to be one of the most important sentences in that particular chapter. This sentence is somewhat of a conclusion sentence that sums up the last chapter while bringing us to the next chapter. I think these sentences are the most important because you can't just end a chapter with a normal sentence. You have to end it with a sentence that makes you want to keep reading and keeps you compelled within the book, wondering, pondering, questioning what's going to happen next so you don't have a choice to keep reading.

One example of these sentences is, ""I'm not going to be murdered," Harry said out loud. "That's the spirit, dear," said his mirror sleepily."(pg. 68) This sentence forces us to keep reading because we are so engulfed in the story that we need to know 'What will happen to Harry?' and 'Who is he seeing in his mirror?' Rowling does a fantastic job of leaving us on a cliffhanger at the end of each and every chapter and keeping us  wondering what will happen next.
Information and background knowledge one the book.

Krista Ramsey Article Analysis

This article by Krista Ramsey called "Locking into the Magic of Legos" is all about how playing with Legos are a much better alternative with all the video games and electronics out there. And there's a lot more brain growth and stimulation involved and helps kids move along in education easier than others.

Krista Ramsey's Lego Article

I think the best written quote from this text well sums up the majority of the article, "And out of all those wonderful things that adults want kids to master but never let them learn on their own – process, trial-and-error, deduction, elimination – chaos will turn to order. Meanwhile, a work ethic is built in: If you want to play with the toy, you have to make it first." I like this quote the best because it shows a major point through out the text that kids need the trial and error process and learn to deal with it and fix the problems, big or small. This lesson could be a life long one that he can use in many situations.

Krista Ramsey's writing style is unique in the sense that it seems like she is talking to the reader instead of a general audience and makes it feel very personalized through her diction and syntax. Some examples are, "Although they should never be spied on in the throes of construction, if they were, adults would see the focus and calm that come with creating." Ramsey makes it sound like she is giving the reader specific advice when she says "if they were" as if she was in an actual conversation with us. Another example is, "Then feet will pad up the basement stairs to show parents what's been created. And they'll pad right back down to tear it apart and move on to freestyle." We see her diction really come out here when she says the small word "pad". This word can almost allow us to here the child coming up the stairs. Lastly, one more example from Ramsey's article is, " Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Jungle Duel can, with a little imagination, turn into sword-training for a ninja or a backyard sleepout with giant ants." This diction is also another good example because her mentioning of all of these familiar things makes us feel like we can relate to her and makes us feel more comfortable.

If I could ask Ramsey three questions here's what they would be:

Who inspired her to become an article writer?
How does she come up with the many ideas she has for articles while still keeping them interesting?
Did she always enjoy writing, especially when she was younger?

Symbols for a Character

I am going to use Hermione Granger to select a tangible item that would symbolize them. For Hermione, I would choose an encyclopedia.

Hermione symbolizes an encyclopedia because she always has all of the answer. Every spell, every potion, every solution to whatever problem they may have. Encyclopedias are used to learn more facts and information about a certain topic. That is something that Hermione has in common. Here's a quote to support my opinion, "He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
“Are you sure that’s a real spell?” said the girl[Hermione]. “Well, it’s not very good, is it? I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’s all worked for me. I’ve learned all our course books by heart, of course.” " This quote is from the first book, 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' but it still pertains to my opinion. She says in the quote that she learned all of the school books by heart. She knows all of the information just like and encyclopedia would. 

This link is many more quotes said by Hermione Granger that just support my thesis even more.

Why I started reading "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

Obviously, the main reason I'm reading the thrid Harry Potter book is because I'm already into the series. But, I could have stopped at the 1st book, but it was soo good!! J.K. Rowling did an amazing job with developing the plot, creating imagery, and making loveable characters. And that's why I was compelled to continue reading!

Firstly, developing the plot. She did such an amazing job with this because every tiny little detail came back to the big picture! Even things from previous books, such as the invisibility cloak, came back to the second book and I'm sure will have many purposes in books later on. Like the diary from the girls' bathroom that Harry found in the second book, we thought that would give us maybe on clue. But as it turns out it sums up the victorious ending of book 2, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Next, creating imagery. One thing I noticed repetitively in books 1 and 2 is the imagery. Not only visualizing people and the setting, but also the food and feasts! I saw a number of times where they would walk by this glorious food she describes and it feels like you're looking at it! Another place I found great imagery is when she describes The Forbidden Forest. She makes it sound mysterious and spooky and like a place you would not want to step foot in (but Harry's atleast been in it twice now).

Finally, loveable characters. There is no such thing as a good book if you don't like the characters you're reading about. Harry is this quiet but adventurous boy whose best friends are Hermione, smart and at first somewhat of a know-it-all, and Ron, a redheaded boy who has 6 other brothers and sisters. She goes into depth on all of the characters so well and it almost makes you want to be their friend.

This video may not be very good quality but what she says about how she created it and the different stories she had written down because they gave too much about the plot away and how she drew out the characters first so she could visualize it all goes with why I have loved these books so far.