Summative Journal -picked journal # 2-

Dear Journal,
By week 2 i have gotten deeper into the book and am getting a better understanding of this novel. In the journal prior to this one i mentioned the boys' innocence and how the reality of the situation they were in hadn't sunk in yet. It got to the point now that the boys have noticed that in order to be rescued or have a chance at least, they need to stay alive. The boys got together and with the orders from Ralph got to work in various jobs that would help each person survive. Some would keep the fire lit on the top of the mountain while others would hunt, gather and build shelters. The time has come where the reader starts understanding each character better and can predict what they are worthy of doing. Ralph seems to be the leader, the boy to turn to for any problems, while Jack seems to just be overally obsessed with hunting a pig. Simon on the other hand that is known to be the biggest kid there is showing us a side we hadn't seen from him before. For example going into the jungle by himself gives us the impression that he's hiding something from the rest of the boys. A different side of each kid is coming out now that they are getting hungry and are realizing they are stuck on the island for a long time. I don't think these kids are bad kids with bad intentions but hunger and the mean of survival will start kicking in making staying alive the most important goal. Selfish actions and betrayal will start to arise out of pure human nature. The conflict of the situation they are in will change these kids dramatically and start acting like emotionless animals. Since they have no one to tell them what they are doing is wrong, they won't know what wrong is from right. Groups will start forming if Ralph doesn't take control and people will be singled out just how Piggy is starting to be. Piggy always seemed to be singled out or different from everyone else and not just cause he was fat but even with something like him being "the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow." (Pg. 67) Anything is starting to set off these kids even when Ralph would say, "We need shelters," Jack would scream back furious, "Are you accusing?" Fingers are being pointed and these once polite humble boys are being engulfed by the wild. I think this journal was better because even though i still gave a summary of what is going on in the book i provided evidence and examples to support my ideas. I added in some deeper thoughts on what is happening to these kids and some predictions of what could go wrong. Like for example the title of the book is coming into play more and more every chapter because Ralph seems like the Lord of the Flies, because right now he is the chief and the flies could be all the kids. Flies also are around death so with these conotation and denotation meanings could mean Ralph is the kid in charge of all these kids that are losing their minds and are slowly being taken over by someone who isn't them, perhaps by the devil. At this point i don't know yet and all i can do is predict and try to find the deeper meaning.
From: Miguel Bustamante

Response

You are giving a plot summary. I need you to move beyond that. You need to connect ot questions, bring in connections etc. Look to the questions and go deeper.

Journal # 2 - Lord of the Flies

Dear Journal,
By week 2 i have gotten deeper into the book and am getting a better understanding of this novel. In the journal prior to this one i mentioned the boys' innocence and how the reality of the situation they were in hadn't sunk in yet. It got to the point now that the boys have noticed that in order to be rescued or have a chance at least, they need to stay alive. The boys got together and with the orders from Ralph got to work in various jobs that would help each person survive. Some would keep the fire lit on the top of the mountain while others would hunt, gather and build shelters. The time has come where the reader starts understanding each character better and can predict what they are worthy of doing. Ralph seems to be the leader, the boy to turn to for any problems, while Jack seems to just be overally obsessed with hunting a pig. Simon on the other hand that is known to be the biggest kid there is showing us a side we hadn't seen from him before. For example going into the jungle by himself gives us the impression that he's hiding something from the rest of the boys. This week we learned what denotation and conotation were and applied it in our discussions finding the literal meanings of words and other meanings we might comprehend. Can't wait to get back to reading !!!
From: Miguel Bustamante