DMS- Determined Motivated Speakers

2011-04-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

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FINAL REFLECTON

2008-05-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

I learned many things about the seizure disorder, epilepsy. I learned that epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. Epilepsy can come from a family generation and it can come from a brain injury that may have happened. You can't get rid of epilepsy. You will have it for the rest of your life. I also learned there are many kinds of medications out that can treat epilepsy but they all aren't good medications. Some medications can cause death. They are very dangerous. This is an side effect of having epilepsy. You have to be very careful about what you are taking and how it affects you. Some medications may cause the bones to deteriorate. No one wants to take medication that causes the bones to disappear while you're trying to get something else under control at the same time. Your medication is what gets your seizures under control as long as you continue to take it. Your medication is what has to stop the seizures from happening so often and basically that's what saves you. But this also cause things like discomfort, fatigue and dizziness. It's all apart of life. Taking your medication is nothing to play with. It's something serious. It involves your health and most important your life!

I had lots of success to the search of answering my essential question. There really isn't any actual strategy or plan that can be put in place to stop sudden death in epilepsy but there are some ways to prevent it from happening as much as it does. I found out some of those ways and I'm going to explain what some of them are. One of the ways are driving. People with epilepsy cannot drive because of caution. No one wants them to have a seizure behind the wheel while they are driving and cause an accident. No one wants that to happen and I'm pretty sure no one wants to risk their life. There are definitely some restrictions when it comes to having epilepsy. Another way to prevent sudden death from happening as much is to stay out of swimming pools. Especially ones that are deep. No one needs to be swimming in a pool and all of a sudden they have a seizure and drown. That is very devastating. So these are a few ways to prevent sudden death in epilepsy. I recommend people with epilepsy to take this into consideration.

I have epilepsy. So there are things I do to avoid sudden death in epilepsy. I take my medication on time and when I'm suppose to. I stay away from pools. There is no need for me to try to swim. I do not need to be in the water and all of a sudden I have a seizure causing me to drown. I can't drive at all so I'm never behind the wheel. I do not want an accident to happen. I just take it easy, never get myself worked up to the point were I'm going to have a seizure. I understand that there are things that I am limited to but I still can have fun and enjoy my life being a teenager. This goes for anyone with epilepsy. Just because you have a disability does not mean you have to stop doing what you been doing. You have to just be more cautious about what's going on around you and be more careful about what you are doing.

Epilepsy is really something serious. SUDEP, also known as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, there are things that happen that is known as SUDEP. They are poor control of seizures, having seizures during sleep, not taking your medication and getting frequent changes in your medication(s). As long as these things are not happening to you, you should be alright and always stay going to your specialist for continuous check ups and for medication. You can still live a good life having a seizure disorder.

I found out lots of information about epilepsy that I never knew about. Now I know a lot about this seizure disorder that I have. I'm going to take all this information and share it with others that are just like me. I'm going to tell them everything I know and everything I found out. I'm pretty sure they would love to know about what they have, how they can control it, the medications for it, and what they can do to prevent death from epilepsy from happening as much. I believe that everyone with epilepsy takes this very seriously and would want someone to come forward and explain what's going on in the world today with the epilepsy "Universe." So here it is the the info page about epilepsy.

No luck...

2008-05-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Still yet I have found the causes of sudden deaths with tetralogy of fallot, but what I did find in my research the is the risk factors for sudden death of tetralogy of fallot, it has something to do with the right ventricular hypertrophy which is a enlargement of ventricles in the heart which is something that is not good. The actual causes of sudden death is still unknown. The only information that I was given was ways to prevent the sudden deaths. The most common is the surgery of course but another prevention is taking the medication if needed to enhance heart functions and also give the heart a normal heart beat or rhythm, but the actual cause will probably will not found until later on in life, and it's kind of upsets me because this is information that I really want not only myself but the world to know.

Deter the Drug Trade

2008-05-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

One of my questions about my project is; What is being done to stop Drug Dealers?
When I researched this question I started off by doing some preliminary searching about the "War on Drugs." Rolling Stone had an article titled "How America Lost the War on Drugs." In this article it explains how Pablo Escabor was finally caught and gunned down for being a drug kingpin. I also found out that when drug dealers get caught they go to jail and probably get bailed out unless they were sentenced without bail.

When people get caught, most of them don't learn their lesson and go back out on the streets. But not all people do, some people become speakers for young people so they won't do the terrible things they did. What people fail to realize is if you don't deal drugs in the first place then they wouldn't be in that situation.

The Causes of Tetralogy of Fallot

2008-04-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

As I continue my search, trying to find the causes of this defect is rather difficult. One thing that I did find out is that the defect occurs due to abnormal developments and this happens the first eight weeks of pregnancy. A baby's heart begins to form shortly after conception and is complete by the end of the second month of pregnancy, during that time this is where tetralogy of fallot can occur. In my research I was not able to find out what are the causes of this heart defect because they are unknown. (The Internet Encyclopedia Of Science) Some believe that it is heredity, and can be past on to the next child or children but this can't be one of the main causes because for example no one I know of in my family has had this defect so there has to be another cause.

Another topic that runs through my mind is sudden death dealing with tetralogy of fallot. In my research that I learned that sudden death is still problem even though now surgery is being done to those who have this heart defect. The sudden deaths are hard for me to understand because it's not explained in the simplest terms. It's so many things that can go work during and even after the surgery, this is something that I am going to continue to look up and you'll find out the exact causes of sudden deaths with tetralogy of fallot as soon as I do.

"tetralogy of fallot." The Internet encyclopedia of science. 1 May 2008 .

Dangerous medications

2008-04-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

There are many different drugs that people are taking to control their epilepsy. Out of all the medications there are, some of them can cause death. They are very dangerous. So this is another side effect of having epilepsy. You have to be very careful about what you are taking and how it affects you. One of the dangerous medications that are out is called Dilatin. This medication seems to make people react to it by having a seizure that can kill them. Most doctor's say that it's SUDEP. But others think this medication needs to be recalled. If it's suppose to help calm your seizures down, why is it making people have them? No one can answer this question but researchers are willing to find out. These medications can also cause bone deterioration. Who wants to take medicine that makes your bones deteriorate? I believe no one does especially not me! I just want medicine that works and that gets my seizures fully under control.
Everyone who has epilepsy is trying to either get it under control or keep it under control. But they can't if the medication or medications they are taking is causing them to react to it and have seizures and is making their bones disappear. So is taking seizure medication something dangerous? Is this puting your life in danger. as well as eating at your bones?(Gardner) Now I have to be cautious about the medication I am taking. I have been taking it for a year now and nothing has happened to me. So maybe I just have one of the good medications that isn't dangerous. This is something very serious that everyone has to look in to. This is definitely something not to play with especially when it involves your health and most importantly your life. This is more information that I found out about the effects of epilepsy and the medications for it. This is something important that everyone needs to know about whether they have it or not.
Gardner, Amanda. "Epilepsy drug linked to bone loss." washingtonpost.com 04 28 2008 30 04 2008 .

The Death Situation That Scares Everyone

2008-04-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

I found out that many people have died from epilepsy. It's called Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). If a person dies suddenly with no cause that cannot be found after examination is SUDEP. Five hundred people die a year from this unknown cause of death. The causes of this death is still unknown till this day. Doctors say that the brain may have something to do with causing this. The brain can stop someone from breathing while they are having a seizure. After the seizure passes, it is said that that person will start breathing again. But the people that this has happened to did not get to breathe again they just stopped breathing and it caused them to die.
No one knows whether it's the epilepsy that causes this to happen or if that person already has problems with their heart and/or lungs. Most people that are at risk of this happening are people with poor control of their seizures, have seizures during their sleep, have a learning disability, young adult males, people who are not taking their medication and/or people getting frequently changes in their medication.
I found out that there are ways to reduce the risk of SUDEP. Some of the following are:
if seizures are not under control go see an specialist consistently, always take your medication, make sure that you never run out of your medication, and never make changes to or stop taking your medication without seeing your specialist. So now there are many things to know about epilepsy and the thing that scares everyone, DEATH!
"Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)." Epilepsy Information SUDEP 12 2007 28 04 2008 .

More Things to Know

2008-04-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

My essential question is, what is the best strategy or plan someone can put in place to stop sudden death from epilepsy? There really aren't any strategies or plans that can really stop sudden death from epilepsy. But there are some ways to prevent it that can help but won't stop sudden death completely. One example would be driving. People with epilepsy cannot drive. They can't drive because they may have a seizure while driving and can cause an accident. It's a very dangerous risk to take. There are laws about driving for people with seizures. Some people can drive but they have a limited time that they can drive and can't drive after certain hours. I hate it because my seizures are not under control. So it prevents me from driving. Everyone is cautious because they don't want me to have a seizure behind the wheel. Most people in my position are banned from driving. And trust me it's nothing fun when you can't do what you want to. The rules varies on how bad that person has seizures and how often.
Another that is banned that epileptic people can't do is swim or bathe. Now about the swimming thing, people who have seizures very often like me, sometimes without knowing you're about to have one, cannot swim or play in water. Things such as a pool. It is dangerous because if you are trying to swim and you have a seizure, you can drown. I love getting in the pool and trying to swim. So it's very hard to try to enjoy yourself when you can't do anything.
Now about the bathing situation. Some people can't bathe because of the same thing with the pool situation except the water isn't as deep. But this is some more info. that I found out about epilepsy and how it affects me and people like me.
"Epilepsy Risk Management." Epilepsy Australia 25 04 2008 .

Blog #3

2008-04-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

As, I continue my research I kind of feel bad because alot of things I should of known about this heart defect I honestly don't especially the fact that I've gone through and will for the rest of my life go through this. I learned that the heart has a wall that separates the chambers on its left side from those on its right side, the wall is called a septum. The septum prevents blood from mixing between the two sides of the heart, which is what the hole is apart of, the septum. I also learned that the hole allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, the problem with this is the blood isn't suppose to flow into the right ventricle at all. The blood is suppose to originally flow into the aorta which is the main part that leads the blood into the body, but because that was blocked oxygen has a very difficult time getting through the body, which is the reason for the operation. Before the operation the right ventricle tend to sort swell up and causes it to thickened. I'm not sure that someone can survive this without the surgery but I'm sure without the surgery isn't a good thing. I'm hoping to find out more information such as, can you survive without getting the operation? And if so how difficult is it? What exactly happens to the heart if you was to wait to the surgery? Does the heart actually swell up? There's alot of questions I really want and need answered because I feel that it's very important for those who may go through this to know all the facts, not only for myself but for also my child, if I decide to have children, my child may inherit this and I need to be further aware of this condition.

First Week

2008-04-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

My first week of being out on the streets watching how people in neighborhoods sell drugs to people was a shock. It was a shock to me because its a real shame how many people use drugs. Also its a real shame how people that you knew for a long time just get trapped or pressured to use drugs.
I have seen people that I am very close to get addicted to drugs. I also know that the drug dealers really don't care who they sell it to as long as they get the money. Although drug dealers would probably sell to pretty much anybody, they would have to watch out for undercover cops that try to buy drugs. Just about two weeks ago someone got arrested for selling drugs to an undercover cop.
This week I found out alot of intresting facts about my topic, and next week I would like to find out more.

Blog #2

2008-04-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

I began my research of what exactly is Tetralogy of Fallot and I learned that it is an sort of heart defect from many different heart defects. This particular heart defect causes many problems with the lungs and it interferes with your breathing. I already knew that this heart defect was basically in the simplest words an hole in your heart but the proper terms a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the ventricles). I also learned that this heart defect is a problem with the heart's structure that's present at birth). The term "blue baby" is also used to describe this condition because some babies who does not have the operation sometimes and most likely turn blue. I learned that the babies turn blue from blood not flowing throughout the body. Luckily the doctors was able to repair my tetralogy of fallot before I turned the color blue. From my research I've also learned that it's a possibility that if I was to become pregnant that I'm at high risk of having a difficult pregnancy. The changes pregnancy brings to a woman's body, can make symptoms of congestive heart failure worse. Having a baby with this condition can cause problems not only for me but also problems such as growth for my baby. So far this is what I found about my heart defect and I'm expected to learn alot more once I finish my research.

"Tetralogy of Fallot." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 22 Apr 2008 .

"What is Tetralogy of Fallot?." National Blood Institute of Health. 2007. 22 Apr 2008 .

"Sex, Pregnancy and Birth Control." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 23 Apr 2008 .

2008-04-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

So I started my research to answer some of the questions I had. I found out that epilepsy is caused by abnormal electric impulses in groups of nerve cells (neurons) found in the brain. It can also be caused by brain injury or through the family's generation. But most causes are unknown (Rutherford).
This had lots of information about epilepsy. But I decided to go on other websites to find out about more information. I found out that epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. I also found out that it really is a seizure disorder(Camfield). Epilepsy can be controlled. I need to know about this because I'm trying to get my seizures under control. Your medication that you take controlls it. As long as you're taking your medication and it's working it will get your seizures under control. I know this is true because when I started taking my med's they were working at first but they just weren't strong enough for me. This is something you cant get rid of. It's something you will have to live with for the rest of your life. So now I know that I can never get rid of this seizure disorder that I have.
There are also many side effects that I found out about when taking your medication. Some of them are experiencing fatigue, abnormal discomfort, dizziness and blurred vision. This all can come from your medication. The medication that I'm taking causes me to have some of these side effects and it's nothing fun. This is what I found out about epilepsy so far and I'm going to continue to find out more because I know there is still lots of information about this seizure disorder that I don't know about.

Steven, Schachter,. "side effects." epilepsy.com 15 12 2006 18 04 2008 http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/medicine_sideeffects.

How to get rid of epilepsy." whfhhc 18 04 2008 http://www.whfhhc.com/Epilepsy/32167.htm.

Camfield, Carol. "All About Epilepsy." epilepsy.com 16 10 2006 16 04 2008 .http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/main_epilepsy

Rutherford, Dan. "Epilepsy - what are the causes?." NetDoctor.co.uk 03 08 2005 16 04 2008 http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/epilepsycauses.htm.

Citation

2008-04-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Tetralogy of Fallot." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 22 Apr 2008 .

"What is Tetralogy of Fallot?." National Blood Institute of Health. 2007. 22 Apr 2008 .

"Sex, Pregnancy and Birth Control." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 23 Apr 2008 .

Teens Dealing Drugs; Before the Search

2008-04-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Today in the world drug dealing is becoming more of a problem. More people are doing it and even kids are too, because of the area they grew up in or just because they think it's cool. I became interested in this topic because I want to know what it is that make young people do this action.
I already know some things about the topic. I know that most people start dealing drugs because their parents or guardians are on drugs. Some people start doing it because their not successful at getting a job.
I would like to know what makes people want to resort to drug dealing. How can we prevent this? What is being done to stop it? What is the pecentage of young people that are drug dealing today?

Tetralogy of Fallot: My story

2008-04-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

I became interested in this topic because this is something I was born with. When I was born the doctors were lead to believe that I simply just had what is called an heart "murmur" but as time when by and I began to get sick, in and out of the hospital for 2years which is when the doctors realized that it was more then just a heart "murmur" it was an heart defect. I was born with an cyanotic condition which is called Tetralogy of Fallot. This caused me to be very ill to the point where when I would cry I would instantly pass out, I ran out of breath easily so I wasn't able to play like a normal child . At the age of 2 & 1/2 I had my open heart surgery which was a success.

What I already know about Tetralogy of Fallot is that it's basically an hole in your heart that effects the lungs and my breathing. That's what caused me to pass out, short of breath. It also changed the normal flow of blood throughout the heart which when not enough blood is getting to the lungs it makes it difficult to get oxygen.

Growing up as a child with this disease was very difficult even after my surgery. As I began the healing process I still had alot of things I had to do so I wasn't living a normal toddler life. There was a time where I had to take medication and go to the heart doctor for an check up almost every month. I wasn't able to participate in rough sports nor do alot of running, but besides all of the problem I had to deal with I still was a happy child. I use to laugh alot and still to this day I still do. I use to get alot of enjoyment out of life by just laughing because I knew I was sick, that's one thing that I remember the doctors use to say about me is that I was so joyful and happy. I did have my days when I was just to myself, I did cry alot, I was in alot of pain.

Every single time even after have my surgery several years later the doctors still remind me of what happen to me. It use to bother me because I hated being reminded of what happen to me and how I was born. Now that I'm older and I'm mature I love thinking about that fact that I am so lucky to be alive. My family call me the miracle baby and I love that name. I feel as if I am an survivor because I was able to accomplished alot of things that the doctors said I wouldn't be able to do. The doctors told me that I would be on medication for the rest of my life. At the age of two the doctors took me off the medication. The doctors said I wouldn't be able to play any sports or do alot of running, I was an cheerleader for 6years. The doctors said I would have to visit for an check up every month for the rest of my life, I was told now that I'm older I only have to go at least once a year. Alot of things I was told growing up I was able to prove those doctors wrong, that's what makes me this strong person to day for the things I've been through in my life and I still can say that I'm happy and I have no complaints.

Sometimes I did wish that some things happen differently but some people weren't meant to be on this earth but I can honestly actually say that I was meant to be on this earth. Something could of easily went wrong in that hospital I basically lived in that hospital, scared to death that I wouldn't be able to one day go home, and still til this day I am petrified of going to the hospital, I'm scared going in the hospital and never going back home. When my parents have the suggestion of going to the hospital for something as simple as an x-ray I refuse to go, I have the fear of dying in the hospital because of my experiences of being in the hospital so much through out my life.

I do not know absolutely everything about this disease that's why I'm going to enjoy researching it because I would like to know whats exactly going on. The main questions I have is what exactly is blue baby? Which is another name for this disease, what causes this disease? Can this disease be cure? If so, how? Where does this disease come from? Can this disease be prevented? What are some other heart defects besides this one? And the big question is, what can be done to help mothers avoid heart defects in their babies?

Epilepsy; Trying to Get Rid of the Sick

2008-04-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

I became interested in epilepsy because I have it. I had it ever since I was a baby. I still have seizures like crazy till this day. I have these weird seizures. When I have them I start to feel very sick. Sometimes I pass out or I just get this dizzy feeling. I also start to get very hot. My temperature starts to rise. These seizures cause me to have a short term memory. I could be busy doing something then all of a sudden I forget what I was just doing. I also have a problem with remembering names and phone numbers. I have to keep my cell phone with me because of my memory loss. The seizures I have really mess with my memory. I could have a seizure, after it passes someone could ask me what's my own phone number or even my house phone number and I can't remember. After 10 minutes or so my memory starts to come back to me then I start to remember the number or numbers. I just have to sit down, let the seizure pass and get myself back together.

I really have no clue about what epilepsy really is. I want to know anything and everything about it. Ever since I found out I had it, I wondered how many other people have epilepsy. I wonder if epilepsy is a death sentence? It's a scary thing to have because sometimes I have seizures and I'm not even aware of what's going on. I just never took the time to sit and do the research. The only thing I know about epilepsy is that it's a seizure disorder. I also know what I need to do when I'm having a seizure. Most of the time I just have to relax and just have the seizure until it passes. But when my temperature rises I know that I need to get somewhere where it's cool so my high temperature can decrease. Usually I just go outside or when I'm too exhausted from my seizure I'll just sit by a window.

I want to know what is the best strategy or plan someone can put in place to avoid sudden death from epilepsy? Really what is epilepsy? I wonder if epilepsy can be controlled. Can anyone ever get rid of it? What are the causes of epilepsy and what
are the different side effects?

2008-03-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

Graduation Day Choices

2008-02-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

Josie made a terrible choice by casting a spell that killed most of her classmaes. I don't believe that I would have made the same decision as Josie made because I wouldn't have cast a spell in which I was unsure of the outcome. I feel that I liked to put thought in to any decisions I make and consider the outcomes of the choices I might make. Also, I know that every decision I make in life will have an impact on the people in my life. I would not want to live with the guilt of knowing that my actions brought harm, death, or unhappiness to the people I care about. Therefore, I do not agree with Josie's careless decisions and would never consider acting as she did in the story.

Do you think Josie based her decisions on moral values or was it impulsive?

Growing From Experience!

2008-02-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

In this book Josie Maxwell was the main character. After discovering an old book of spells, she is careless in her choice to experiment with the casting of spells from the book unaware of the danger it could pose to herself and others. As a result, while at a party, Josie watched helplessly as her unsuspecting friends were murderd by an evil spirit she inadvertently summoned through her spiritual play. Believing that she could undo the damage, Josie discovers a way to turn back the clock in an attempt to change the impending doom of her friends. Unforrtunately, the death of her friends was inevitable and once again, she could do nothing to save them. Following these events Josie no longer experimented with spells and spirits and realized that curiosity is not worth the risk of losing or harming friends.

Do yo believe that this incident was caused by Josie's curious nature or pure disregard for others?

STYLE!!

2008-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

The genre of this book is horror. I think that middle school kids would be more satisfied with this book. Maybe they would think that its a scary book. Im not very familiar with horror books but I am familiar with horror films. I think that this book breaks the mold's by it having an unusual plot. Many other horror books would most likely have a killer going around killing people. However, this book is different and has an evil spirit that came from a high school girl who cast a spell at a party. One thing I did like about this book was how the pictures of her dead classmates in the year books turned to skull heads. I also liked that when she was looked at prom gowns they all turned into red gowns with skull heads and blood coming out of them. I personally found this book to be a boring read that failed to engage my interest.

Based on the details given, do you believe this would be a story that would hold your interest?

Determined Hunter

2008-02-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

Thinner by Stephen King
pgs#(241-251)

The genre I am reading is horror. I am very familiar with this genre. I love to read horror and sometimes it can be very mysterious. It will have you in suspense about what's going to happen next. I love it when a book makes you think. Horror can be very scary. This book that I am reading is sort of scary. But it will definitely have you thinking about what's going to happen next. It will make you so suspicious. My book seems to "break the mold" because this guy in the story had no clue what was happening to him until he realized that he had been cursed. When all his clues started to come together he knew that when he had seen a gypsy, that gypsy did something to him that turned his whole life around.
Now that his life has made a big dramatic turn, he is willing to fight to get his old life back. So now he's hunting the gypsy down who did this to him so he can become his old self again.

Conflicts Erupting

2008-02-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

"Seniors Graduation Day", R.L. Stine
pg. (27-40)

So far in the story, I've learned that there was going to be an problem with one of the students named Dana going to Josie's graduation party. Josie intensions was to have one last fun night before everyone goes there seperate ways but not knowing that the party situations was going to cause problems for many students. The problem was that one of the students at the high school which is Dana's sister and also Josie's bestfriends had died that school year and many students especially Dana wasn't in an party mood. What I'm looking forward to learn next is, how did Dana's sister die and is Josie still going to have the graduation party. The problems and coflicts the characters are ging to face is the same problems now, I think that someone else will die from the class and alot of people still aren't going to want to basically move on with there lives, but Josie's still going to continue to have the strenght to move on and help others to move on. So far she's an honest person and she has explain to others the true meanings of life. This may cause many problems because most people like to dwell on the bad things in life other then the good possible things in life, so I believe the students will not be able to enjoy the day they've been waiting on for the past four years of there life.

A Thought Of Suspense

2008-02-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Thinner by Stephen King
pgs#(165-240)

The main character Billy, seems very motivated. What's making him so motivated is ever since he's been cursed, his friend Richard has motivated him to find the gypsies who did this to him and get the curse tooken off of him. So his motivation is to get this curse off of him and gain his weight back. The curse has him losing too much weight and now he looks anorexic and if it continues he's going to die. So his friend Richard has been by his side since this curse was put on him. Now Richard and Billy are very determined to find the gypsies who did this. They believe that if they can scare the gypsies, the gypsies will undo the curse and make Billy normal or better the way he used to be. But now Billy is really wondering if this plan he and Richard thought out will work. He's starting to think that if he and Richard go mess with the gypsies they will put a spell on Richard and kill him. So both men are second guessing about the plan they have come up with about fooling with the gypsies.
Now they have to either see if their plan will work , come up with a different plan, or just leave Billy to die. Now do you think Billy should just give up or go with the plan he and Richard came up with to get the gypsies to undo their spell?

My Initial Impression of Graduation Day

2008-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Graduation Day, By R.L. Stine

Pg 1-26
This book isn't the type of book I really enjoy. I would be more interested in a book that could actually happen in real life. I find this book stupid because students died at a high school party by an evil spirit killing most of the kids. The spirit came from another student who cast a spell from an old book she had. Another reason why I don't like this book is that its not scary and thing like this wouldn't really happen so I believe that I can't get scared by this book.

Excruciating Changes

2008-01-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

Thinner, by Stephen King (pgs#22-164)

Now that I'm half way through my book it really has become very interesting. I look forward to learning about how will the conflicts in this story will be resolved. The first conflict in the story is the characters in the story have been cursed by a gypsy. The main character Billy has been cursed and is now losing too much weight. The 2 other characters Cary and Donald which are his friends have been cursed by the same gypsy. Cary's skin is scaly and it's turning into reptile scales and Donald has huge pimples all over his body and they're getting bigger and bigger. The second conflict is that the gypsy has disappeared and now they have to find him. Neither character has a lot of left time before they die. So now they are on a mission to find this weird gypsy so they can get the curse reversed before their death. i want to know if this old weird gypsy will be found and will he agree to reverse the curses he has put on these guys so they can live.
This book has become very interesting to me because i like how these men are very determined to get their regular lives back. I also like wizardry such as he gypsy putting curses on people. I always wondered how can they do that without doing it to themselves. How can they cast a spell without messing up? But in all I love the book. Why do you think the gypsy put curses on regular working men?

Blog Response #1

2008-01-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

"Seniors Graduation Day" by R.L. Stine
(pg 1-27)

My impressions of the book so far, honestly, it's pretty boring. I'm not really an horror fan but I know I should be scared to read parts of the book. I have yet to feel chills or goosebumps through my body. When I first picked up the book I thought that maybe I'll be scared to even read the first chapter but I've read through the first for chapters and there still isn't an fast "heartbreaking" moment. I feel as if the parts that are suppose to be scary aren't scary simply because there isn't enough specific details. For example there's this one scene where one of the characters named Trisha is down the hallway in school screaming, the main character Josie hears her cry and ran down the hallway, what she saw was Trisha arms were cut off this evil spirit, I don't find anything scary about that, I feel like someone's more likely telling me the story other then me feeling like I'm actually apart of the story. Maybe if the author would of been more surprising and a little less forward I would of been a little frighten, say for instance "Josie was in the dark hallway, no one around, not knowing that anyone was around the corner. Josie was scared because she knew something wasn't right, out of no where she hears a scream, she looked around and say nobody there, then she heard the cry again but this time it was even louder as if the sound was getting closer, next thing you know she looked around the corner and she yelled and to here shocking surprise she sees Trisha standing there bleeding crying next to this evil spirit and as she moved a little bit closer she sees that Trisha was standing with her arms cut off." I think that before the author actually says what happen you should put the reader into a position where there just about on the edge of there sit. So my overall impression of the book, I don't think I'm going to like it very much.

Blog Response#1(thinner)

2008-01-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

"Thinner" by Stephen King pg#(1-21)

So far in my book I really like it. The main characters Billy Halleck and his wife seem like very realistic people. There are really crazy things going on in their life. It's very interesting. Stephen King can really make up a good interesting story. It's telling me things about what can go on in life. I really haven't read enough to explain my real impressions on the book because I don't know what's really going on yet. But this is what I think so far. It's a mysterious story that makes you think really hard of what is going to happen next.

Group Response

2008-01-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

HORROR:
We chose this genre because we really enjoy spooky and scary things. We think people read this genre because it's very interesting. Also it makes you wonder what's going to happen next, it makes you skeptical about the most frighten things in life. Horror is a realistic part of life and it shows what could possibly happen in certain situations that happens in movies, books and in everyday life.

Assessment - Indy Reading Project - December

2008-01-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

Maurice - 5/5 Responses

Regarding your second response, why does Ponyboy run away? Remember, his parents are dead. I would think that this would make rifts with other family members more traumatic. Anyhoo, I think that your 2nd and 3rd responses are your strongest. I like that you start by making your point and then fully explain it. Not a lot of plot rambling going on.

Sharne - 5/5 Responses

Very developed responses. They need an ounce of fine tuning, but good job overall.

Diera - 5/5 Responses

Nice job D. I'm reading a novel involving kidnapping also. I think your 2nd response is your strongest, although I like the one about your old friend too.

The Outsiders Blog#4

2007-12-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

This book relates to my life in some ways. Some ways the book relates to my life are that some of the people I know are in gangs. It also relates to my life because I have friends that will do ust about anything for me, just like Ponyboy's friends. My brothers are alot like Ponyboy's brothers, they're like a father type to me because my dad died when I was a baby. But they can be fun to hang out with too, they can have serious as well.

Blog #3-The Outsiders

2007-12-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

I believe that Randy's experience caused him to grow. I feel this way because he doesn't want to fight in the big rumble, (Socs vs. Greasers). He doesn't want to fight in the rumble anymore because of the gang sh!t, his best friend was killed. His best friend's name was Bob, the Socs were all drunk one night and were looking for a fight. They happened to run into Ponyboy and Johnny and they jumped them. Johnny looked up from off the ground and seen that Bob had Ponyboy's face in a bird bath, nearly drowning him. Johnny ran over there and he pulled a knife out and stabbed and killed Bob.

I think that Randy decided he doesn't want to be in the rumble because he doesn't want to end up like his friend Bob. On the other hand he thinks he has to be in it because the other Socs might think he is a punk. Or the might think that he probably wants revenge.

Blog #5

2007-12-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

This book was written not to long ago. I can tell because the details in the story tells me that it isn't recent like my teenage years but recent like my childhood years. This book mentioned artist such as 2PAC and he was killed when I was only 6years old so this book wasn't written so long ago. This book has been out for more then 10 years so I do think that people will still be reading this book in the next 10 years but I don't know about the next 50 to 100 years because by then everything will be advances ain't no telling if people still be reading out of the actual book. I do believe that this book can be written now because it may be a fiction but to me it still can be based on a true life story. This book can be reflected by someones life because it seem so realistic.

Blog#5

2007-12-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

The actions of the characters seemed very plausible because the way they acted when a problem came about. When Neil and Sharon were kidnapped Neil dad's was very worried they wouldn't live and he didn't want anything to happen to them. What person doesn't worry and hopes nothing happen to their family. Right off the bat that's how any person would react. Anyone would immediately start worrying and would be very scared for their family's life. Neil and Sharon also were very worried because they didn't know what was going to happen to them. They thought they were going to die. I would have thought I was going to die if someone kidnapped me. So all these things are just instant thoughts or reactions.

Blog #4

2007-12-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

If I could ask the character any question I would probably ask her what's her inspiration to write the book "fly girl". In the story she's an author as I've said before and she has a very different kind of out look on life and she expressed it in her book. I can tell that she has been through alot and have done alot and I would like to what exactly she would say is her inspiration to come up with in the things she has written. Why was it important for her to write the things down in a book? What's the reason to actually publish the book? I feel that these question are important because as a writer people looks up to her and I want to know is that one of the reasons for writing the book. Is the thought of her audience really important to her or is she just writing the book because it's just something she wants to do? I would also ask the author of this novel "for the love of money" the same questions because I'm sometimes interested in the person outside of the book as far as there believes, and is it an good idea of reading there books.

Blog 4

2007-12-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

In the novel A Stranger Is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark, all the characters in the story seem very realistic. Most of the characters in the story have many predicaments. I can relate to the predicaments that are going on in the story because there are many issues going on today about abducting in the U.S. and even over seas. In my novel it's about a woman, Sharon and a little boy named Neil. They both got abducted. All these kidnappings are happening because of money issues. It may be an illegal thing or something that happened legally went wrong. This story reminds me of one of my old friends. Her name is Desire. She was abducted by her father's friend. He abducted her because her father and his friend were gambling illegally and Desire's father refused to give him the money when he lost. So the man thought he could get his money back by abducting Desire and having Desire's father pay the ransom. Well all in the end Desire's father paid the ransom but later on the abductor was caught a couple of days later.

The Allure of the West

2007-12-13T16:56:00.001-08:00

Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer, pgs 144-207 (end)

Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, pgs 1-97

So, I finished Into the Wild and started rereading a book that I'm studying with my AP Literature class. As I read the first act of the play I was struck by the similarity between Chris McCandless and many of the characters from Death of a Salesman. The main character of this story, Willy Loman frets over a missed opportunity to accompany his older brother to Alaska to make money. Instead he is 60 and stuck in a dead end sales job. Interestingly enough, Willy's father abandoned him as a child to also seek fortune in Alaska. In a weird twist, Willy is disappointed in his son Biff because he is constantly seeking work outside of the norm of the day. He's worked on cattle farms and other jobs that Willy does not respect. Biff explains that he likes these jobs because he's not stuck inside at a desk and can be out in the open air.

In American culture the west has always been symbolic of the open frontier, a vast unexplored wilderness where a man could make his living outside of the realm of laws and societal constraints. It's interesting that these two books, written 50 years apart, have such similar themes.

Does anyone else know of any characters who seek a life outside of society? Anyone have a friend or family member who constantly wants to go out on the open road? What do you think drives a person to feel like this?

__________________________________________________

Dear Blogger: This is not a spam post. I am mailing to publish this on all of my student's blogs in order to provide a sample and to engage in discussions. Please call off the spambots.

The Outsiders Pages 1-72

2007-12-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

I believe that I wouldn't have made the same decision that Ponyboy made. He made a decision to runaway from home because of his older brother hitting him. Now he thinks that it was a bad decision because he is in even more trouble. When he and his friend Johnny decided to runaway, they ran into their rival gang The Socs. When The Socs started beating up Ponyboy and Johnny, Johnny pulled out a switch blade and stabbed one of The Socs. When all the other Socs ran Ponyboy and Johnny realized that the boy was dead.

They knew now they couldn't stay around, so they went to Dally's house who was apart of their gang. When they got there they told Dally the whole story, and he helped them out. He helped them by giving them some money, a gun, and he told them a hideout they can go to. I wouldn't have made the same choice as Ponyboy because if my older brother hit me i whould've just hit him back, I wouldn't have ranaway like a baby because of my older brother hitting me.

Blog 3

2007-12-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

One of the main characters in the novel, Sharon Martin has many experiences that cause her to grow. Sharon Martin was dating this man named Steve. Her and Steve were not really getting along like they were supposed to be because of Steve's son Neil. Neil really didn't like his father dating ever since his mother passed. Well anyways when Sharon was kidnapped Steve was very worried. Sharon on the other hand was to. She was missing for three days. For those three days that she went missing she had time to sit and realize that she really loved Steve and his son even though he didn't approve of her. She grow into another person. After she was rescued she changed her ways and tried everything she could to make Neil like her. She convinced him now Neil and Sharon are getting along. Steve is very happy because he wants Neil to have a mother in his life.

Blog #3

2007-12-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

The main character Tracy seems very real to me. She relates very much to me because of her personally and the way she carries and relate to herself. She is a very independent and a little out spoken African American like myself. She says exactly whats on her mind at any giving time. I relate to her very much not only because of her race and where she come from but because she inspires those around her that's much younger to her. I feel as if I am a role model to those that are younger then me and that's actually what she is, even though she isn't a real person being that the book is fiction, in my eyes she's just as real as me that's why I relate to her very much.

My reactions

2007-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

In the book "for the love of money" by Omar Tyree the character reacts to different situations similar to the way I would react. For example, the main character Tracy, who is known as "fly girl" which is the title of part one to this book, in the story she's suppose to have had wrote the book "fly girl" and she was going back to her high school in her old neighborhood to talk to the kids about the book but we all know teenagers today does not have very good listening skills they seem to always judge before allowing people to speak. That's exactly what they did to her they immediately began to jump down her throat criticizing her book, the only ones that were listening and allowing her to speak was the young ladies who is the majority of the ones who actually read the book.The boys were being books and automatically she was annoyed and her reactions was the same as mines would of been, "come at the boys" she didn't hold anything back she said exactly what was in her mind and the young ladies of the high school had her back because they all know how ignorant and rude boys are. How she react to the situation wasn't troubling at all for but but it may have been for those adults in the room. Some people feel a n adult you have to talk to younger people in a different matter but I feel as if she had every right to say what she had to say simply because if there old enough to say it how it is there old enough to be taught the way it is.

Tracy language was sort of unappropriated for the situation but the boys where saying inappropriate things as well. I know if I was in that situations I would of probably acted the same way maybe even worst, but as I read I was behind her as well as the other female characters at the school. To me she wasn't in the wrong, but as oppose to others, she was. She's an adult and she's suppose to go about the situation in a different direction. More in a positive direct then the negative, because she's suppose to be an role model, there were plenty of girls in that high school that looked up to her. Even though they didn't disagree with her other adults did, that's why the way she handle the situation could be troubling for her.

A Stranger Is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark

2007-12-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

In this book there are many conflicts that just pop out at you. You never know when there is one coming. I look forward to learning about how all the conflicts in my book are going to be resolved. For instance, there's this man named Steve. His wife got murdered by a man named Ronald. Ronald is supposed to be going to jail in a couple of days for murder but he wants revenge on Steve for putting him in jail. So Ronald kidnapped Steve's son Neil. Now Steve has to follow Ronald's directions to get his son back alive. So now I want to know if Steve's going to follow his directions and I want to know if Neil is going to die. I want to know what's going to happen to the people who are starting these conflicts and what's going to happen to the people who are the innocent ones in these conflicts. I think the characters in this story will face horrible problems.

They may face problems they can't take. For example, going to prison for a long time or maybe even life. The main character Steve is a nice and very honest person. I think all the problems he is going through will be resolved. Hopefully his son Neil and his girlfriend Sharon Martin will get returned safely. Steve has been through too much for him to not get his family back. Everything will change when Ronald Thompson is put in jail and they know that everything is safe now. The one person who committed crimes and murdered many people will now be put in jail. But before all this can happen the police has to find Ronald and put him away for life.

Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer Pages: 1-144

2007-12-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

So, the book I'm reading is about this early twenty something kid who
is pretty alienated. It's a nonfiction book, and since I haven't
summed it up yet in a previous response, it's about a kid who is
searching for meaning in life and seeks this meaning by exploring.
At the beginning of the book we find out that he ends up dying in the
middle of Alaska to exposure.

Even though I think I'm supposed to, I'm having a really hard time
identifying with the main character, Chris McCandless. I look at
the cover and there's this picture of Emile Hirsch portraying
McCandless. He's a good looking kid, and he's kind of sitting in this
"top of the world" type dominant pose. The author seems to really
identify with the character, and spends a couple of chapters relating
his own similar experiences. And McCandless is seemingly the rugged,
individualistic antihero that Americans celebrate.

But, I can't get into him, and I think it's because I'm a parent
now. I see the way this kid abandoned his parents, went off into the
middle of nowhere, took chances, didn't write home, and espoused his
theories on the way life works to whomever would listen, and I'm
like, "dude...call your mom, dad and sister. They're worried sick."
The kid is kind of portrayed as this spiritual, deep Thoreau quoting
prophetic figure, but he just strikes me as naive and self centered.
I don't know what I'd do if I was his parent. I would be devastated
if my son took off after graduating college and just disappeared.
It's really rather sad.

(By the way, if you're wondering, this response is to the 7th bullet
under character. The total length of this response is 279 words. I
summed up the book to start because I figured you'd need that
information, but then I really tried to stick to talking about
whether or not I identified with the main character and why.)

The Outsiders

2007-12-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

This book is about three brothers that are part of a gang. Their gang is called "greasers", they always get in a gang fight with another gang called "Socs". The author of this book is S.E. Hinton.

One thing I like about this book is its about how some kids around the world actually grow up in gangs. There is also one thing I don't like about this book which is the time setting. This book is set more in the 80's than in modern time.

"For The Love Of Money", Omar Tyree

2007-12-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

The book "For The Love Of Money" by Omar Tyree is about a girl who is known as "fly girl", this book as actually the sequel of the book "Fly Girl" also by Omar Tyree. This book is basically about the young African American women growing up in a particular neighborhood and how she likes the finer things in life. Her life story as I would say to describe her is "money, money and more money".

One thing I like about this book is that this book is fiction but it has real life basics about it. I love books that describe different things that could or has happen before. Even though it's fiction I'm sure that there's someone in the world who can relate to this book.

1st post

2007-12-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

A Stranger Is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark
This novel is about a man named Steve trying to get revenge on this guy Ronald Thompson. Ronald Thompson killed Steve's wife Nina. Steve met a new woman and he's trying to get his son to like her. But since his mom's death he 's been in shock. Now since Ronald Thompson is about to go to jail he wants revenge on Steve.

I like this novel because it's a suspense story. It makes you want to read more to see what's going to happen next. It's something very interesting and very mysterious. I like to read mysterious books because it just makes you want to read more and it has you thinking about how the end of the book is going to end.

Your 1st Post!

2007-12-03T05:17:00.001-08:00

Today in class we will be posting to our blogs. To keep things simple, this
first post will be a kind of introductory thing. Here's what I'd like each
of you to write (make sure it is under your own display name):

1. In 2-3 sentences, give us a taste of the book. What is the title? Who
is the author? What is the "gist"? (It's about a girl who...)
2. In a separate paragraph of 2-3 sentences, finish this sentence: One
thing I like (or don't like) about the book so far is...

Welcome

2007-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

Hello folks. I just wanted to give you a hearty welcome to the
blogosphere (the world of weblogs, according to my widget dictionary).

I'm going to send you more meaty information in the next few days
(right now I'm testing out the "mail to blogger" option I told some
of you about today).

But for now, I want to talk to you about grammar and conventions.
These are blogs for my English class, and I expect you to follow the
rules of standard English as best as you can. Some of our previous
rm305 blog discussions were replete with mistake after mistake. You
may IM your friends and write on Myspace one way, but on these blogs
we are going to assume a more academic diction.

Thanks for the help. If you have any questions, let me know.

DMS- Determined Motivated Speakers

FINAL REFLECTON

No luck...

Deter the Drug Trade

The Causes of Tetralogy of Fallot

Dangerous medications

The Death Situation That Scares Everyone

More Things to Know

Blog #3

First Week

Blog #2

Citation

Teens Dealing Drugs; Before the Search

Tetralogy of Fallot: My story

Epilepsy; Trying to Get Rid of the Sick

Graduation Day *Choices*

Growing From Experience!

STYLE!!

Determined Hunter

Conflicts Erupting

A Thought Of Suspense

My Initial Impression of Graduation Day

Excruciating Changes

Blog Response #1

Blog Response#1(thinner)

**Group Response**

Assessment - Indy Reading Project - December

The Outsiders Blog#4

Blog #3-The Outsiders

Blog #5

Blog#5

Blog #4

Blog 4

The Allure of the West

The Outsiders Pages 1-72

Blog 3

Blog #3

My reactions

A Stranger Is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark

Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer Pages: 1-144

The Outsiders

"For The Love Of Money", Omar Tyree

1st post

Your 1st Post!

Welcome

Graduation Day Choices

Group Response