7. Comment on Peers' blogs

Each of you should have SIX blog posts complete as of today. If you do not have this done, it needs to become a priority over the weekend to get caught up!!

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This week, instead of creating your own blog post, you will be writing comments on three of your peers' blogs. Everyone will write one comment on each of the two most recent posts (significance of? and poetic devices) written by your classmates  (3 peers x 2 posts each = 6 comments in total).

WHOSE BLOGS?: Select the blogs that belong to the three students whose names are listed ABOVE your name on the 'BLOG ON!' list found in the sidebar to your right.

HOW DO I DO THIS?: You need to comment on what the person has said in the blog post you have selected. Read the rules below before proceeding......


DO NOT . . . 

`Do not be rude.

`Do not be sarcastic.

`Do not just tell the blogger they are awesome or that it is the best blog post you have ever read. 

`Do not make an inside joke.

`Do not insult or otherwise demean the writer.

`Do not leave an empty comment (I really liked your picture; I enjoyed this post; I think I might read this book too - these can be better through added detail)



DO. . .

`Genuinely look at what they have said about their books and respond accordingly.

`Make an intelligent comment on the book, the topic or the ideas presented by the blogger.

`Extend the blogger's thinking by linking their ideas to something else (another text, your personal experiences or the world).

`Ask the blogger a question about what they have read or what they have said.

`Offer a suggestion for another book they might like based on what they have read and the themes and ideas presented in the blog post.

`Give the blogger tips for improvement based upon the expectations for each post (including correct citations for their novels; using quotations with proper in-text citations; checking for punctuation, spelling or sentence structure; adding length through further detail, description or support from the text; organization of elements on the blog).

`You may also comment on the style or form of the blog itself (the design of it; the visual elements: colour, organization, font style and size; use of gadgets; readability; title and description etc.).

NOTE:  ****As a blogger, you should read these comments and respond accordingly to what your peers have posted. Fix what they have suggested, start a dialogue.

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There are some samples of peer comments below:

BAD
you are awesome i luv the shoes u r wearing lol :}

GOOD
You were very descriptive about the two elements you wrote about. I am now really interested in reading Modelland, would you recommend it?

Good post. You chose great literary elements to describe and had good support from the novel for both of them. For next time I would start by saying what book you are reading to make the post easier to understand.

Very well written Laura!! Just to make it a bit better maybe you need to add more visual components to your blog. maybe add more colour or the book cover in each post :)

BETTER

This was interesting, however it lead me to a a question: Who was it that brushed aside Tookie? If it was her family then it would be a long hard journey for Tookie to gain confidence considering she grew up thinking she was always second to her sister. If Tookie stepped outside of her comfort zone she would gain confidence and fir into the stereo-typical world you talked about( how beauty is everything), because confidence is beauty.

I like how you used such specific elements to the book and had solid support to your answers. I understood what you were talking about because I've read this book but anyone who hasn't read it might find it hard to understand. Like Lynne and Nathan already mentioned, you could introduce your book at the beginning of the post to help those who haven't read it. Maybe add a bit of a summary about key information to lead up to your quotation to give your reader a sense of what has gone on so far.


BEST
Foreshadowing is for sure an important quality for a book to have, and by reading your description of Uglies, the author seems to do an excellent job at including it. Great post, very descriptive. You were even able to talk about the significance of the device to the story when you said: "The foreshadowing used in Uglies allows you to uncover more about the characters. For instance, as the reader, we barely know Peris. But when Tally flashes back to memories with Peris, you start to discover certain things about him. In all of Tally's flashbacks, she went to Peris for advice, and from that I got that he was a good friend to talk to, and that he has good advice." I might consider reading this book sometime!

6. Poetic Devices used in Narration

This week I want you to look specifically at the POETIC STYLE of your novel.

1. Identify and define ONE poetic device used within your narration to add interest to the writing. You will have to consult your poetic devices hand out to do this.

2. Then, include the text excerpt that contains the poetic device and include a properly formatted in-text citation (Author, Title Page).

3. Finally, explain the purpose of this device to the plot,  character, setting or theme of the novel. (This AGAIN is directly related to significance). You may choose to add an image here as well. (Be sure to include the MLA style citation for its source).

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For example: (NOTE: spoiler alert!!!)

In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, there is a good use of symbol. A symbol is an object or item that represents something more than its physical state. In the Hunger Games, Rue's flowers symbolize much more than Katniss' sadness at the loss of a friend. After the death of her ally Rue, Katniss covers the body of the young girl with flowers as a symbol of Rue's humanity and a tribute to her short life. 'Rue's song' indicates the symbolic nature of her actions with the flowers when Katniss sings, " Here it is safe, here it is warm / Here the daisies guard you from every harm. " ("The Hunger Games") after Rue dies, Katniss uses the daisies to guard her, but the flowers represent more than that. By calling attention to the sacrifice that Rue made during the Hunger Games, Katniss challenges the idea that Hunger Games – and the people who play them – are mere entertainment for the audiences back in the Capitol. To Katniss, Rue isn't simply a character on a television show. She is a human being who is worthy of respect, admiration, and mourning. As Katniss says: "I want to do something, right here, right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do that there is a part of every tribute they can't own. That Rue was more than a piece in their Games. And so am I." (Collins, The Hunger Games 145). Covering Rue with flowers is an intense act of rebellion against the Capitol. The experience of witnessing Rue's death inspires Katniss to go on and win the Games – and to prove to the Capitol that they can't strip the tributes of their humanity, however they might try; the symbolism of the flowers is not lost on the Capitol.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
"PHOTOS: Stills from The Hunger Games." My Hunger Games. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.

"The Hunger Games." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.