Lord of the Flies: Chapter 12 Journal

Why do you suppose Ralph cries at the end of the novel, when the danger is over? Which character in the novel do you despise most and why? Would you recommend this novel to a friend? Why/why not?

I didn't personally like the ending to this novel simply because it ended way too soon leaving us with no knowledge of what happens to each of the boys after they are rescued, I think Ralph cries at the end of the novel out of relief that the other boys did not catch him in time to harm him and the fact that they were finally being rescued. I think so many emotions had built up inside him during the duration of time they were on the island that he started to cry. The character I despise the most would be Roger because Jack was already "the bad guy" on the island & Roger just added to & encouraged Jack's ways. Plus, he was the one to kill Piggy. After reading this novel for a second time, I would recommend this novel to a friend. I think it's a good read and there's a lot people can learn about society and human nature in this novel.

Lord of the Flies: Ch. 11 Questions

1.What does Ralph's group decide they must do?
Ralph's group decides to confront Jack and his group. They decide to go and see what they can do about getting Piggy's glasses back and acquire the knowledge on why Jack's group didn't just ask for
the fire.

2. In what ways are the twins "seeing Ralph for the first time" before going to Castle Rock?
The twins examine Ralph curiously, as though they were seeing him for the first time and they realize that Ralph has his flaws. The twins notice that Ralph is forgetting and losing his sense of civilization and his sight of being rescued.

3. Why is the boy's attempt to get back Piggy's specs and get the other boys to maintain a signal fire bound to fail?
The boy's attempt to get Piggy's specs back and the other boys to maintain a signal fire is bound to fail because of the clashing roles Ralph and Jack play. Because of their desires to be the leader figure, Ralph and Jack argue, but Piggy reminds Ralph of the reason they went to castle rock in the first place.

4. Why do you think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff?
I think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff because he felt as if something needed to be done to stop the arguing between the boys. He might have intentionally meant for this to happen so that the conch would be gone and no one would be on Ralph's side when Piggy is gone.

5. How is the destruction of the conch symbolically significant?
The conch symbolizes order on the island. When it is shattered and broken, it symbolizes how civilization within the boys is destroyed and completely vanished.

6. For most of the boys, what are the reasons why they want a chief? What does a chief do for them?
The boys want a chief to be able to know what to do. They want someone as an authority figure to be able to understand how things should be done. Without one, they wouldn't know what to do.

7. Come up with two original questions you would ask Jack if you could.
-Has the death of Simon and Piggy have had any impact or influence on your desire of hunting/killing?
-Will you act the way you've been acting on the island when you are able to be rescued?

8.In a minimum of two solid paragraphs, write a diary entry on the state of the island and the boys at this point in the book. 
Dear Diary,
     At the beginning of being stranded on this island, it didn't seem so bad to be here. We started off as one whole group, and I thought we'd be able to help each other establish some sort of civilization. As time passed by, I started to realize that maybe it won't continue to be so great. Our one whole group split into two as Ralph and Jack each became "leader" of his own "tribe." With this being done, there came arguments, fights, and even deaths. It all seemed so unreal.
     The island now, seems as if it is a distant place that I'm not so sure of anymore, even though I am standing two feet on it. It has become a place of violence and disorder as all of us let our savage instincts completely take over. No one speaks of being rescued or of how we can keep surviving. No one has any plans, and no one knows what to do. We are all completely lost and have completely lost our sense of humanity.

Lord of the Flies: Ch. 10 Common Core Questions

1. Ralph knows that during the incident they ultimately killed Simon. However, Piggy wants Ralph's knowledge of this to be unspoken of. "'That was murder.' 'You stop it!' said Piggy, shrilly. 'What good're you doing talking like that?'" (Golding 156). Piggy states that during the incident, he and Ralph were outside of the circle that was tormenting Simon and that it was all just an accident. "'It was an accident,' said Piggy suddenly, 'that's what it was. An accident.'" (Golding 157). Samneric describe the incident as a "dance" or "feast" and that they had left the dance early and got lost. "'Yes. We were very tired,' repeated Sam, 'so we left early. Was it a good-' '-dance?'" (Golding 158).

2. Ralph describes Simon's death as murder and suggests that maybe Simon was only pretending and can be still alive. "'Piggy.' 'Uh?' 'That was Simon.' 'You said that before.' 'Piggy.' 'Uh.' 'That was murder.'" (Golding 156). Jack insists that Simon was the beast in disguise and that the beast is still somewhere on the island. "'-and then, the beast, might try to come in. You remember how he crawled-'...'He came disguised. He may come again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat. So watch, and be careful.'" (Golding 160).

3. Based on his order to have Wilfred beaten, we can conclude that Jack's power has deprived him of his morality. "The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The tribe lay in a semicircle before him. The newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffling noisily in the background." (Golding 160). Within Jack's group, Jack is ultimately the dictator and his followers obey him out of fear, not respect because of the terror and violence he instills in them. "Half-relieved, half daunted by the implication of further terrors, the savages murmured again." (Golding 161).

Script:
Piggy: "Ralph! Ralph! Where are you? I.. I can't see.." *loses his glasses & has asthma attack
Ralph: "Maybe this is just in my nightmare." *hit by one of the boys
Sam: *stuck in the destroyed huts by himself
Eric: *beat up & attacked by Ralph
Jack: "Where are- wait, I found them! Shh, let's go!" *invades Ralph's area, steals Piggy'ss glasses, leads the boys in attacking the others
Roger: "Jack, have you found them?!" *follows in Jack's footsteps, attacks other boys

Ebola Editorial

1. Betsy McCaughey identifies the problem in her commentary, which is that nurses/doctors who treat personnel with Ebola are not well/fully covered enough.

2. The solutions McCaughey offers are the following: to expand capacity at the nation's four bio-containment hospitals & to protect our local hospitals, healthcare workers, and patients by relying on the nation's bio-containment facilities. 

3. Sean Kaufman, infection expert, sees the CDC's guidelines as "absolutely irresponsible and dead wrong." 

4. Representative, Michael Burgess held up a photo of CDC Chief Frieden in Aftica wearing a protective suit that covered him head to toe to make the point that the guidelines that the CDC issued for nurses and doctors here isn't great.

5. 

a.) Yes, I agree with her recommendation. This is because she is right in making the point that bio-containment facilities are built to protect patients, as well as nurses & doctors.

Article Summary: American Sniper

In the article titled, 'Legend' of American Sniper Chris Kyle looms over murder trial, Ed Lavandera focuses on Chris Kyle's life and the blockbuster, American Sniper. First, Lavandera explains that Kyle wrote that his work on Iraqui battlefields earned him the nickname, "Legend." Next, Lavandera points out that the nickname Kyle's enemies called him was "al Shaitan Ramad" or the Devil of Ramadi. Also, Lavandera reports that even if Kyle wasn't the only sniper engaged in battles, his legend resonates with a wide American audience. In addition, the writer mentions Kyle's words of, "I wanted to go to war. I signed up to protect this country.." Finally, Ed Lavendera concludes by stating that for many elite soldiers, the decision to leave the battlefield is an excruciating one, the sense of duty to protect fellow soldiers was a feeling that Kyle struggled to let go.


http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/09/us/chris-kyle-american-sniper/

Knowledge

Knowledge is not only what you know, but how you perceive & interpret information that is given to you. It is not only about knowing what you know, but also using it to your advantage and to use it at a greater extent. To be able to gain knowledge, you must seek it yourself. You must use resources that is given to you & available from the world around you. These resources include, textbooks, tv shows, the internet, and what others tell you. To gain knowledge, you must also be driven to want to learn. Continuous attainment of knowledge is important to be able to know of all the happenings around you at a constant pace. 

Opinion Editorial

"Can Money Buy You Happiness?"

Can money really buy you happiness? Well yes, and no. You go every single day wanting and needing things that must be purchased with money. For example, when you go shopping, whether it be clothes, shoes, food, or school supplies, you must pay for then with money. After you buy them, you feel good and don't have to worry about it anymore. When you buy something you really wanted like a car or a new phone, you feel really happy because you're able to have it. Money can buy you the pleasure of having things that bring you happiness. However, like most people say, money can't buy you the kind of happiness that comes out of loving one another and being kind to someone. Money can't buy your emotions. It's up to you when and why you feel a certain way. We're not only always happy because of material things, but also by things that can only be felt. You can be happy because of someone's presence or because someone was kind to you today and more. That is the kind of happiness money can't buy. 

"Should school put tracking devices in students' ID cards?"

ID cards are meant to show a person or in this case, a student's identification. If schools were to put tracking devices in them, it would be an invasion of privacy. Schools do not need to know every second of a students life, at least not necessarily. Schools do not need to monitor where and where a students goes at all times. Students should be responsible enough to take care of themselves. It would be a waste of money and technology to put such devices in a students ID card and it would be of no use.