Comparison to Maycomb Blog

11/24/2015

John Zalazinski

Eutaw Is a City in Greene County, Alabama. At the 2000 Census the Population Was 1,878. The City Is the County Seat of Greene County and Was Named in Honor of the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the Last Engagement of the American Revolutionary War. N.d. Green County, Alabama. 

http://www.loc.gov/resource/highsm.07032/ 

Prompt: How does the picture chosen relate with Maycomb?

How this relate to Maycomb is that all the buildings are packed together, that can indicate that it has a small population/town. The strongest reason why I think this makes the area have a small population is that on the white building on the left there is two doors in the front. There was probably not enough room for another building so two businesses had to share space. That exact building is the most worn down also, because it looks like the other buildings are kept in good shape. This can mostly be because there are not enough workers to help build it back up.

Another way this relates to Maycomb is that there is grass growing in the cracks in the curb. This is very similar to Maycomb having cracks in their sidewalks because of the town not being well taken care of. It is not well not taken care of because there is only a population of 1700+ and it doesn't seem to be a really big deal. If it was more of a "high class" place like New York it would be more of a concern because a lot of people want to keep a city like that as perfect as it could possibly be.

Chocolate War: Theme Blog

Theme Blog

John Zalazinski

11/12/15

I think the theme of this book is that one small mistake can turn into a huge problem. Jerry Renault a student in attending a catholic school refuses to sell chocolate. He then challenges a secret society called "The Vigils" who believe that they are the better type of people and that just adds on to the problems he is going to have. He is responsible, and careful person, it is mostly the people around him that makes him troubled. He is incompatible with them and rather not work things out.

Archie can be one of the motivators that makes Jerry make these problems. Archie is a cocky, arrogant, and he thinks he is perfect. The thing that probably makes Jerry angry because of Archie is

his lack of religion he shows. The proof of this is on page nine when he says, "When you march down the rail you are receiving the Body, man. Me, I'm just chewing a wafer they buy by the pound in Worcester." These traits are perfect for someone that is supposed to be hated and seems like it makes the perfect antagonist (don't know for sure).

The setting can make the conflict interesting and show the theme of the book in a unique way. It takes place at a catholic school which means the chocolate had to go to a fundraiser and Jerry didn't want to sell it for his reasons. Archie must've overworked or "motivated" him in the wrong way. I am also to have a slightly big suspicion that Archie is in the Vigils and is just really quiet about. Archie managing Jerry could be a subtle test from the Vigils seeing if Jerry can withstand what they have.

1st Quarter Reflection

1st Quarter Reflection

John Zalazinski

10-28-2015

I think one of the tasks/assignments that benefited me the most was the Life Lines for Of Beetle and Angels. This assignment helped me connect with the book by remembering quotes from the book. Plus, there were morals and lessons to be taught in some of the quotes, that can really help people get through life and motivate them to keep going. Of these lessons in particular was not take things for granted, like how Mawi was so glad to have good teachers in his school district because his teachers in the refugee camp were abusive. It taught us that first world countries problems are nothing compared to the third world.

For the the next quarter I should apply myself more than I did the first quarter. First off, I should
study the vocabulary for multiple days and not just minutes before the test. Work more on how much detail I put into my work. I don't want to be as broad when it comes to my AoWs because then the reader wouldn't understand the article as much as they should. Lastly, I want to focus more on assignments in general and not get distracted easily.

I haven't read a single book for the 40 boom challenge this quarter and I want to improve that next quarter. I want at least read four books for second quarter. I want to read a variety of of genre so two or three weeks will not be wasted when reading. I also want this to increase my vocabulary through the majority of books I hopefully will read this year and next quarter. 

The Chocolate War, Blog Week of 10/12 - 10/16

The Chocolate War By: Robert Cormier

John Zalazinski

  10/14/2015

Prompt(s): Are the characters realistic? Why or why not?

Jerry Renault (main character) is a realistic character. He is a student at a catholic school "Trinity" and he is on a football team. Literally millions of people in the country can match that description. The fact that he also doesn't want to sell the chocolate, shows some type of rebellious attitude which a bunch of teenagers have. He feels guilt and anger like anybody else, he is not emotionless, because that would make the book very boring. Emotions need to be expressed in order for him to be a realistic character, and he met that criteria.

Obie is a realistic character. This shows immediately in chapter two, when he is having a love/hate relationship with a another student, Archie. He envies him but admires him at the same time which is really weird. Obie even jots down notes on Archie about whatever angers him or one of the reasons he admires Archie. 

Archie is a realistic character. He is one of those classic "perfect" guys. He is making people do favors for him like a king, and has blonde hair that he can toss in any direction. Despite all of that, he still has flaws like everyone in the real world, for example he not the best at completing assignments, "These god**** assignments. Do they think it's easy?" This can also connect to a lot of people in this class, may or may not including me.

"Rotten Underneath" - Life Lines Poem

John Zalazinski
10/9/2015


The teachers
could punish us for almost
any reason.

So my father started talking
about America, where
every one had a future.

We were extremely fortune to be in school district 200,
with outstanding teachers.

But what's sweet on the surface
is often rotten underneath.

Mulu's classmates drew
skeletons on her locker and even
serenaded her with the popular
famine fundraising song.

I rarely saw my brother tremble,                                        
but he trembled with Jake's threat.

Mbago disliked me
because I was
poor and looked it, he was
ashamed to be African with
me.

They had grown up in a wealthy
American suburb, and we had grown up
in a Sudanese refugee camp.

We heard frenzied knocking on our door,
like our brothers in Africa we were making war,
not peace.

Mawi Blog

John Zalazinski

9/24/2015

Throughout the book Of Beetles and Angels and the article "Yazidis capture life in refugee camp through the lens" has some similarities when you go through them. An example of this would be the idea of determination they never let anything get in there way especially when they had something to hold on to. Mawi had education to look forward to and the refugee girls have photography to express themselves. Both have something, despite all the bad things that are happening with or around them. 

Mawi and the female refugees both never forget their heritage. Mawi I had beliefs that a person that can be the least likable, arrogant, and most irritating person ever but on the inside they're the angel you have been looking for. There was a refugee girl named Barfe who took a picture of a woman who is living in the same refugee camp as her because, "The clothes she is wearing are traditional Yazidi clothes and that is why I chose to take a photo of her," which shows that even in difficult times she doesn't forget where she came from. 

War can have really terrible outcomes to individuals and societies. An example of this would be Obama not letting any other refugees in because of ISIS sneaking into the refugee camp and disguise as another refugee. Even though that is a really huge threat to the country there is still actual refugees in that mix and we should take the chances to help them out. Overpopulation is also a really big problem because of war. Currently, there are enough Syrian refugees to fit Italy and maybe even a little bit more than that. Hopefully this would get better when or if US plans to take in 85,000 - 95,000 members, and more of the refugees will be safe.

Summer Blog #4: Book to Book Connection

John Z.

8/12/2015

Book to Book Connection:

Gathering Blue & Wonder

The one way Gathering Blue & Wonder is that both of the main characters are deformed in some way. Everybody thinks they are useless because only one or some parts of their body is deformed. Both "Kira" and "August" feel like they are not welcome at all and are alone most of the time. People around them seem to judge a book by its cover.

Another way they are similar is that they are avoided most of the time. All the females in Kira's village outcast Kira, similar to what most of the kids in school do to August. Most of the people Kira and August can go to for help are usually not around, for example both of Kira's parents are dead, and August could only see his friends at school. They don't have anyone to turn to, and if they do they would have to wait for a long time.

The final way they are similar is a time when they work is the only way to escape all of the troubles they have. For Kira doing joys brings back memories of her mother. When August goes to English class he enjoys the messages the teacher writes on the chalkboard. They both take the experience and interpret it into something that comforts them.