SCULLYWEST

Honors english essay

2005-06-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Christine Scullywest
Honors English essay

This semester we read Shane, The Call of the Wild, and The autobiography of Miss Jane Pittan. These books all related to what we have been learning and studying in our US History class and English class. Shane is about this guy who is always traveling and he comes to this town and helps this man and his family out. The Call of the Wild is about this dog that gets taken up to Alaska/Canada area and is a sled dog under very harsh conditions. The Jane Pittan book is about a former slave and her life and how she lives it.
The book Shane relates to our US History class because it is about a conflict between boundaries of two families in the mid-west and in our history class, we talked about the westward movement. It was where a lot of people wanted to move west and families were settling the whole US. There were also lots of boundary disputes, some which led to war, like the Mexican War, although that is on a much bigger scale than the one that is in the book, it is the same idea because people died over conflicts like that.
The book, The Call of the Wild is about this dog and he got sold illegally to a different owner who took him up and made him a sled dog for people trying to mine gold. The owners of the dog are really mean to him, they whip him and beat him, and some are really stupid, but the biggest danger is that of the other dogs, because they are constantly competing for the highest rank. This book relates to what we have been learning in US History because it is about the extremes of the gold rush, and to what extent people went to try and get rich. It also resembles part of the human kind, the way that people want things so badly they will kill other creatures to get it, like dogs in this case. It not only resembles the human kind though, and since it is written from the point of view of a dog, it shows the greed and need to be the best dog and to survive. I say greed because some dogs just fought because they wanted to, and others, like Buck, fought for their lives.
The Jane Pittan book highly relates to our US History class because it is all about slavery and how harsh it was and what it was like to live it. Jane Pittan ran away, and came very close to dying when she was 11 years old by a group that hated African Americans. This was very common, people, mostly slaves, getting killed by white people. Jane thought she was going to make it to Ohio and find General Brown, but then she gave up and her life went in another direction. She moved from plantation to plantation, working and all along caring for Laura's little boy Ned. She died when she was 110 years old and she died at a gathering of angry African Americans just a little bit after the Rosa Parks movement.
Overall, I liked all three of the books, because they were all interesting and you learned something new. I think I liked the Jane Pittan the best because it related to our History class the most. Shane was a little boring, but very suspenseful, and The Call of the Wild was very gory, but very well written, especially from a dog's point of view.

~Christine

Miss Jane Pittan 5

2005-05-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! I am now officially done with all my postings for this years honor books, although we still have to do that essay. I thought this book was better than the others we have read, although it was pretty boring at the end, Ithink the author could have left out the last 100 pages and it would have been better. haha Well anyways, Jimmy, that guy that they all thought was going to be the "One" obiously didn't turn out to be very famous because I didn't know about them until I read the book! Please, if anyone knows of a doggie that needs to be adopted, contact me..thanx!

Miss Jane Pittan 5&1/2

2005-05-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

Yeah I am only going to write a little bit here because I haven't read that much since the last blog. I seriously need like to clear up on what happened when that Tee-Bob killed himself. I thought that Tee-Bob and Robert were the same people, but I guess I was wrong. If any of you have any idea what's going on, can you please comment and tell me? Thanks, well I kind of know, but it's still kinda fuzzy.

Miss Jane Pittan 4

2005-05-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

I think it is wierd how Ned dies. He dies because he wants to teach. What a stupid reason. The stupid police or whatever don't even believe the guys that were witnesses, or at least they weren't strong enough to speak up for themselves and say that that Andrew guy was lying. I would have said he was lying, because that's the truth. I like how this book relates to what we are learning in US History. I hate it though, that people got tourchered like that. I think that I would rather not live, than be a slave in the south or be in the Hollacust. Well that's enough of gross bad stuff for now. (By the way, does anyone know of a dog that needs a home? if u do, contact me) thanx

Miss Jane Pittan 3

2005-05-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

When Ned built the school, he knew he was going to die. He still pressed on. He wasn't afraid, and he wasn't scared in any way. I think that if I were a slave, I would be like Martin Luther King and Ned. I am glad I am not a slave. I like it how Ned keeps running until he gets his chest blowen off. He never crawled. I think my favorite part of the whole book so far is when Jane and that other girl, Andrea, or someone, that daughter of Andrew C. that was talking to Jane and she was like, my Dad keeps beating me every night, because of the Chariot of Hell. She's like, I have showed you the scars on my back. Jane goes, I wish I could show you the scars on my heart.

Miss Jane Pittan 2

2005-05-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well I just got finished publishing the first post like 2 minutes ago. Anyways, as I was saying, Miss Jane's little stories are all very interesting. Like Tom Sawyer, it is filled with little adventures that all add to big story, of someones life, the life being the life of Jane. I think it is sooo sad that Ned's Mom and little sister died by a racist group that smashed their heads in. I can barely thinnk about that. How could someone be possibly be so horrid????????????????????????????? I couldn't even live in that time. Killing someone??? Watching them die??? Smashing their heads into the ground with sticks?? Seeing little innocent babies suffer because you are taking a stick and smashing their heads??? I seriously don't understand it.

Miss Jane Pittan 1

2005-05-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone! Well then, I am on page 140 so far of the book, and I would have to say that this book is tied for first place out of all the honors books with Tom Sawyer. I like it that Jane doesn't talk in proper english, because I think it takes less time to say cause, than because, and I think it's great that she leaves out all the thes and little words. It is much much easier on my eyes. lol Not that I can't read big words, haha, but I would rather read little words. I think all the little stories that Jane has are all very interesting.

Call of the Wild 5

2005-04-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Yay I finished Call of the Wild, it was a pretty sad book because aside from the pack of the wolves at the end and Buck, all the poor little doggies die. The author of the book, Jack London sure spends alot of time describing in detail about the surroundings of the wilderness and how Buck feels and uses his 5 senses to his advantage. It took me a while to get what the author was saying when he said that Buck marched out of camp and then like turned into a fox or something. I get it now though. Overall, I think this is a very well written book, but it takes a long time to read all of the authors descriptions. Does someone want to tell me wut the next book is? Thanx

Call of the Wild 4

2005-04-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

This book is sooooooo incrediably sad!!!!!!!! I hate it how all those poor little animals die, they are so innocent and they had to get beaten to death and killed by their peers. O well, there is nothing I can do about it now. I wish I could though. Those stupid stupid people that don't even know how to take care of sled dogs and they feed their dogs too much to begin with and then that woman, who is "soft" shouldn't have come along with them in the first place if she was just going to sit in the sled, the little starving, freezing, exauhsted doggies had to pull the really really heavy sled. I was so glad when John saved Buck, although I wish he had saved all the dogs.

Call of the Wild 3

2005-04-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

I seriously think this book is really depressing, at least if you were a dog it would be very depressing. All the poor "little" doggies get beat up and it was really sad when all the starving huskies came into the camp and started visously eating all the food in sight. Then everyone, including the humans there got all gross, with blood and bites and cuts and everything that they went through trying to defend thier food. One particular thing I thought was particually gross was that when Buck bit into the jugular vien in the other dog's neck and the "warm" blood started spurting out and he thought it felt good so he went around biting other dogs' necks. GROSS!!!!

CALL OF THE WILD 2

2005-03-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

I have read up a little further than last time. I think it is really sad how all the doggies die from beatings and starving, and freezing, and fighting. It's so sad, they sounded like really beautiful, playful, loving dogs. I wish I could have saved them all from those horrid deaths, but then again, I wish I could have saved everyone from the Holocaust, from the tsunami, September 11th, world hunger, slaves, disease, etc. Well, since I can't do any thing about it, since it's already over, (the dogs dying) then I will continue to tell you about the dog that survived. Buck, had a very nice home before he got taken away and beaten and choked and starved. Finally when he was off the ship, he adapted to the cold weather very well, learning to steal, pull sleds, and dig holes to sleep in.

Call of the Wild 1

2005-03-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

Well I have read the foward and about John London's life... it isn't the perfect dream life, at all. But then again, no one's is. It seems like it was pretty harsh living up in Alaska, in the wild, especially during winter. In the summer I think it would be kinda pretty, (but not too warm : () well of course not too warm. Anyways, I feel really bad for that dog, that he has to adjust to all the coldness and blizzards and fend basically for himself. He had such a nice life to begin with, being the alpha dog at that big estate, gaurding the childern and other than that, doing what he pleases. It's a big change to go to Alaska. (Even though I haven't been there, doesn't mean I don't know what it's like, or kinda what it's like.) I will now leave to go do my math...... bibi

SHANE 5

2005-03-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! I finished!!! clap clap clap...
I think Shane was a pretty good book, after all, which is a big difference from my 1st and 2nd blogs on Shane. It turned out to be a pretty good book because there was some interesting actions going on and it kind of held you in suspense for a while to see how the ending came out. I liked how Shane took on all those guys at the saloon and beat them, that was interesting and I think it was what those men asked for. At the end, I like how the author descibes Shane, being complete and all, taking the time to pick up a stumbling boy on the road while he has killing on his mind. Wow I thought it was amazing that Shane could pull out his gun so fast and be able to shoot 2 people too. It was sad though that he got shot himself. I am glad the family didn't move after Shane left, as the Dad had threatened to do.

SHANE 4

2005-03-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

Wow! This book has gotten so so so much better than I thought it would be. In the beginning it was a sleeper, but now with all the wild action and other things going on in it, it is getting pretty exciting i would have to say. I am glad Shane is good at fighting, or else the Father would be totally dead right now, because those 5 guys could probably take him easily, but nooo, not Shane!! I am glad the book has gotten better, and if I were the "little" boy that was standing at the doorway while the fight was going on, I WOULD BE OUT THERE FIGHTING!!! If Shane was considered part of their family, I think it seems like an easy decision to go out there and fight. I know I would have. O well, i am glad that the father came in time to save Shane. Maybe the boy was too scared to go out there and fight, or maybe he was too stunned at what was happening, or something else. But I call him a boy, 1, because I don't remember how old he is, and 2, because he isn't man enough to go out and help part of his "family", or so he considered Shane. 213 words, I guess I will stop now.

Shane 3

2005-03-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am a little futher along than my last 2 posts. I am now on about page 50, almost 1/2 way through the book! I think the book has gotten better as I read, and it's not quite what I would call boring, but not really what I would call exciting either. They really haven't done much, just cut up and old stump and other farmwork. I think it was really sad when the mother forgot about the apple pie then wouldn't talk to anyone while she made another one. It's not it was like the boys fault for "making" her forget about it. Well i seriously thought that the stump was going to fall on Shane and injure him, but it didn't luckily. Shane still seems suspious to me, especially when that man came to sell stuff to the father, and they were comparing prices. Well I hope this book gets a little more exciting and I will talk to you all later!

Shane 2

2005-03-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, now I am on page 5. Woot woot! The book is getting better as I read, but I do think it's really annouying when the author just keeps on describing things and doesn't tell you what's going on. I thought that when the Dad said to Shane, don't leave in such a hurry, that Shane was going to take off running on his horse, because on the back cover it said something about Shane being bad. Well I think it would be really neat if Shane did take off riding and the Dad was a police detective and Shane was wanted for crimes. Then they could have like a fast-speed chase on horses!!! You know, instead of cars? Okay, never mind, I am like making up my own story. Well I better go read some more so I can inform you all whats happening in the next 3 pages. haha-Bye

Shane 1

2005-02-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Wow, i am on page 2 of the book, because I think it is so boring i would totally quit reading it if I was reading it on my own...but I'm not. O well. : ( If anyone knows if we can read one of the subsitute books instead of this book, please inform me, I will be very grateful. Okay, well so far this guy, a kinda supisious looking guy came to this town and the author is describing him. Personally, I think the author is judging the guy by his appearance, but on the front cover it does show someone with a gun. Which is proably why the author is trying to get us to not like him or something. Anyways, this sure is a lot of writing for being only 2 pages in, but again, this book is very boring so far.

Essay

2005-01-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

Christine Scullywest
Honors English
Essay on 3 books

Johnny Tremain, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and Tom Sawyer all have something in common; they are all about history. So far I have read three books and two of them relate to what I have been learning in US History. Johnny Tremain is about how a boy in colonial times survives with a burned hand and the Revolutionary War starts. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is about a young woman whose Grandfather died and how she came to the US; she found it very different and hard to live in the new place. Tom Sawyer is about a little boy and all his adventures he goes on and how they affect his life.
Johnny Tremain relates to what I have been learning in US History because it is about how the Revolutionary War started and all the historical events that happened. Some examples of this are the Boston Tea Party, and how Johnny and his friends dressed up as Indians and went and chopped all the boxes of tea on the ships in their harbor. They did this because they didn't want to be taxed from other countries on food and other things that were imported into the new America. Another historical event was when Paul Revere and went on his ride to warn people that the Regulars were coming. They, the secret committee members, did this because they didn't want the British attacking them when they weren't ready. The new settlers were trying to gain independence from them. Overall, I liked this book the least out of the three.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond relates to what I have been learning in US History because it was about when the colonists settled and how hard it was for them to work and survive. When Kit comes to America, she is not expecting to work as much as her family forced her to. There were lots of things to be done to establish a new country, and two of them are that everybody needs to live peacefully, and everybody needs to work their share. Kit struggled to do this, but in the end, succeeded. At that time in history, people thought that witches existed. This causes a big problem that Kit gets stuck in the middle of. Overall, this book placed second in my opinion, of the three books.
Tom Sawyer relates to what I have been learning in US History because the book tells what it was like to live back in history. It tells about the little small schoolhouse, their houses, and how they lived. Everyone in the town went to church on Sunday, except for Huck Finn, and a few others, and they usually lived with their immediate family. They had to do most work the “old fashioned way.” Just like in the other two books, they had to boil water to take a bath, walk to all their activities, etc. Their houses were simply made, with a basic shape, not what we would call luxurious, but enough to live in. Most of them had a storage place for food they made or grew, such as a root cellar, a pantry, etc. Everyone in the town related closely to each other, such as when the boys disappeared, a lot of townspeople came over to grieve with the family. Overall, this was by far the best book out of the three.
In conclusion, about the books I read, I could relate them to something we learned in US History, even though all of them may have been in different time periods. I think Johnny Tremain and the Witch of Blackbird Pond are significant to history. Tom Sawyer was a little harder to relate to History class, but it did tell about how people lived in those times.
-SCULLYWEST

TOM SAWYER 5

2005-01-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

I finished the book, finally. I liked it soooooo much better than Witch or Jhonny. It was way more interesting once you got into it, because little boys are so active and entergetic. It was way gross, though how Indian Joe died and I thought that it was good that he was dead, but he died a pretty painful death. I thought it was a good idea how Tom used the kite string to see if it was safe, although it was kind of coincedence how he like so suddenly found a way out. In the end, I am glad that Tom got the money and split it with Huck but it was sad how he didn't like being rich because he always had to be clean. I still think he should stop smoking though. You are never supposed to put little boys to bed because they will always end up a day older. Okay yea, I got that off a movie, but still. I think people (nannies) should not be so strict. Anyways I liked the book and I passed the test!!!! YAY

TOM SAWYER 4

2005-01-05T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well I think that Tom did a good job on saving that poor man from getting accused of murder. I have seen the movie, so it's not a big suprise on that. But I think Injun Joe is a cruel cruel person to steal out of peoples' graves and murder somone there too, and then accuse another person of it. That is SO wrong. I would never even THINK of doing something that gross and disturbing as to steal out of peoples' graves. I don't hink Tom should be worried about dying at his age even if he did tell a secret. I think he's really stupid to take the whipping instead of Beckey, she should have gotten it. She deserves it. O well. It's really sad how everyone got sick on vacation. I think the things the girls read at the end of the year were the most BORING peices of writing ever made.

TOM SAWYER 3

2004-12-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

Well I sure wouldn't go into a graveyard and kill a cat just to get a stupid wart off, I mean just the thought. It is a wierd concept to be considering to because someone would have to be really bored to come up with that theory. Not to mention, a graveyard would be a awkward place for a murder to happen, you usually don't hear about murders that took place in a graveyard. Little Tom sure has a nack for evil, liking the idea of making and writing on a wood peice with your own blood? Dosen't quite appeal to me. You? Haha hopefully not. I think the aunt is a little over reacting to just a slight sign of depression, some kind of weird sickness in Tom. Tom and his friends are really stupid to think about how bad people would feel if they died. Some way to think.

TOM SAWYER 2

2004-12-27T10:44:00.001-08:00

Okay I think little Tom totally messed up his relationship with his little exgirlfriend. By the way, did it ever say what age Tom is? I am guessing around 10. Well anyways, he kinda slipped and mentioned his other "engagement" he had had with another girl. Well, so much for that relationship. I think it is a really good idea when he was out in the woods and he lost his marble, so he took another one and stood in the same spot. Then he threw it in the same direction. I think I have done that too. On the murder part where that Injun Joe guy kills the doctor and makes the other guy think he did it, I think it appears much scarier in the movie. Huck Finn obiously dosen't have much motivation in his life, although I would have to agree that that school that the townspeople go to is really pretty boring.

TOM SAWYER 2

2004-12-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

TOM SAWYER

2004-12-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

I just started Tom Sawyer. I think Tom is really smart in terms of getting away with things and not getting caught. I liked his whitewashing idea of making them pay little collectables to try whitewashing. I hoped that one of the guys would finally realize that whitewashing really isn't that fun after all and that Tom had actually gotten it as a chore. In the movie, they made Tom's aunt seem like really mean, but in the book, she is really not. She says something like, "I wish I didn't have to punish Tom," or something. I don't think Tom is very good at flirting. Why does he think he can get the girl by dancing in the window? He should try communicating with his mouth. It would probably be much more effective.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond 5

2004-11-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

Yes! I finished! I think it is really cool how Kit got Hannah onto the Dolphin and safely away from those stupid, mean people. How could they just go and burn down her house? Poor Hannah, I feel really bad for her. Just because people are sick dosen't mean it's witchcraft. That's pretty stupid and a waste of time to bring Kit to court just because she's friends with an old lady. I'm reaally glad that Nat showed up with Prudence and Kit won the case.I'm also glad that Prudence's Dad stood up for her and went against his wife. It's really sweet how all the relationships worked out, with Judith marring William, Mercy marring Jhon-it's good Jhon came back alive. Yey! Kit is finally going with Nat on Nat's new boat, The Witch!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond 4

2004-11-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

How, how , why, would Kit ever want to marry a guy like William? I mean they do not even talk, they do not even know each other, and they both have totally different interests! Who cares if Willie likes Kit? I t dosen't even matter and the relationship can't get anywhere if she dosen't like him! A relationship consists of 2 people in love, I repeat 2 people in love not just 1. Yeah , we all think it's great that Willie has such a big house and is so rich and stuff, but Kit only wants to marry him so she won't have to work. What a stupid reason! How are they going to communicate when they're married if they can't even communicate now? I think it is really sad how Mercy likes Jhon and he likes her, but they can't get together, only because Jhon dosen't speak up against Judith! Ehhh....It makes me so mad-JK.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond 3

2004-11-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

I guess Kit isn't very familer with work! I do agree with her that that church thing would get really really boring after a while. It would not be very pleasent sitting on those hard benches for what, 3 hours? I think that would be pretty hard to sit in a dead silent room in an uncomfortable position for that long, pretending to pay attention to a very boring voice just rumbling on and on about things you don't even understand. I do think it is good that Kit goes to visit Hannah and teaches too. That sounds a bit more interesting than just doing work and then spend nights sewing.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond 2

2004-11-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

Water- for breakfast? Oh dear I 'm near about going to faint! Goodness girl, get with it, it's not that big of a deal to have water for breakfast, water is good for you. I think Kit should be thankful they actually have breakfast, and bonus that they have something to drink! I still think Matt is really stubborn and mean for not letting Judith and Mercy have the beautiful dreeses Kit gave them. They're just going to go to waste if nobody wears them, sitting up there in the attic. I would totally have taken advantage of having such pretty gowns, and I would wear them alot. I think that Kit is really really weak and has no muscle since she complains about stirring a little pot.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

2004-11-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

I think Kit has had a pretty hard time since she had to ride on the Dolphin with all boys for a long time! She was kind of, well not exactly spoiled, but lived in a much different environment than the US. I would have done the same thing as Kit, going after that little girl's doll because that stupid guy wouldn't go back and get it.I wouldn't care if people thought if I were a witch because I floated, that's utterly pathetic. I think that Nat guy likes her. Shheeesh, her uncle is quite strict an unwelcoming.

JHONNY TERMAIN 5

2004-10-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

That is pretty risky to ride your horse off like that , like Jhonny did when he got in trouble for riding his horse in the jumps by that army dude, although that's alot better than 30 whips on the bare back. think that it is really sad that Rab left, and Jhonny was so jealous of him. I think it is cool how Jhonny gets to spy on all the coronels at Afric Queen , wouldn't that be a fun job, sneaking around like that and evedroppings? It's so horrible that Pumpkin died , I feel really bad and it would be really scary to to be Jhonny, seeing your friend die like that. Mr. Termain is a big part of the war, not on the front line anything,but has alot of messges to send to Paul, Warren and all the oher people in the secret group.

Jhonny Termain 4

2004-10-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

HAHAHA that was funny how Jhonny compared an apple to him and Cilla and the apple was wormy, he actually thinks an apple can symbolize a relationship, whatever.I think it is good that Jhonny is working with rab and them and I think he really likes it. The soliders are really gettting on the boston peoples nerves they're on mine too!-jk Well I 'm glad that Rab didn't get tarred and feathered like that other dude that got caught selling and buying a british gun.

JHONNY TERMAIN 3

2004-10-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

I think that it is bad that Mr. lyte dude is really unethical and mean to come to a conclusion that fast that poor jhonny stole the the cup when he really didn't. Maybe Jhonny really is related to him, and he just didn't expand his horizions enough to figure that out. Jhonny has to stay in jail now , and Mr.lyte dude doesn't even have any proof- how utterly stupid of him. Well I am very glad that Jhonny won the court case thanks to Rad, him, Cilla and Issanah. I don't like Issanah at all she is way to stuck up and takes advantage of her prettiness, I proably would too if I were like that , but not nearly 1/2 as much as she does. Ehhhh now Mr. lyte has the cup back how wicked of him to do such a thing. If I were Jhonny, I proabaly would have punched him, took the cup and ran, and I'm not just sayig that -I would have too. Mr. lyte really bugs me.

JHONNY TERMAIN 2

2004-10-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

I think that Dove is really really obnoxious and mean for doing that horrid thing to Jhonny- I feel bad for him. I would have never never never handed someone a broken tool when working with hot metal so they would get hurt- that is so mean. That really stinks that Jhonny dosen't have a hand to use now, if I were him I wouldn't spend my afternoons swimming, I would look for work 24/7. Then when I got some money I would go to a surgical docter and get my hand fixed so I could help my "family"out again. As I stated in my last blog, that Jhonny was a responable guy, well I am going to add lazy and sensative to that too because he keeps his hand in his pocket all the time and goes swimmng instead of looking for work, totally procrastinating. : )

JHONNY TERMAIN

2004-10-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

I think that Jhonny Termain is good worker. This is because, even though his "brother" is 2 yrs older than him, he still gets Dove up in the mornings. He dosen't help out at all around the house, but does work pretty hard in the silver shop though. I would hate to grow up knowing who I was going to marry and have them be mean to me all the time, too. It is really sad how Cilla and Issanah makes fun of him when he reads the bible at breakfast. I wouldn't like to work in a silver shop because it is dangerous.