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December 11, 2008

 * Do Now:** What are the possible themes for Animal Farm? Are your themes universal? Are they stated? Are they implied? This book was published in 1947; is it still relevant today? Why?

Bao Kang Vang: I think the theme for //Animal Farm// is that having weak, ignorant, and greedy leaders, will not lead you to the expected outcome you thought or wanted it to be. Some leaders say things and lies(propaganda) to get the attention they need to be able to have the highest authority. Their are leaders all over the world. There may be good leaders or bad leaders. Those who use you or those who serve you. Like the saying, "I serve them, they do not serve me." At least something like that. The book is still true to this day how I look at it, it does.

Mr. L: Bao, it is precisely this reason that we do read this novel each and every school year, its theme(s) are universal and timeless.

jalynn: i think that it is saying that you should not let just any one lead you and that if you ant careful you can get over time Mr. L. Jalynn: Is it alright if I allow myself to be led, but I don't allow myself to be led without question?

Kendra Allen: I agree with bao and Jalynn because yea leaders always lie no matter what. They want to feel like they know everything when sometimes they really don't. With Jalynn yea never let anyone lead you unless you want them to because they will boss you around. Mr. L. Kendra, "leaders always lie, no matter what?" I hope this isn't always true! Are there times when telling a lie is preferable to telling the truth? Are there good lies? Bad truths? When should you choose between the two? ** Lee: i think the theme of animal farm is " appearance are deceptive ". ** Mr. L. Lee: Nice choice of a theme. It works just fine! "Appearances are deceptive!" Mei Hui Lim- Possible theme for Animal Farm is having too much power could lead to corruption. When they kicked Jones out, their society became how a human would act when they had that much power. My theme is universal because it could happen to anyone, when they gets hold of so much power. It also the same reason why it is still relevant today. Mr. L. Mei: Yes! Too much of anything is never good without some controls! Humans are after all, human! Knowing this, what does a person do to protect oneself from this reality?

Kirsten Z: I agree with Mei "having to much power could lead to corruption". Like when Napoleon became leader the animals became followers and always listened to Napoleon so napoleon had a lot of responsibility. The theme is universal because anyone could become overwhelmed with power and not know how to use it. Mr. L. Kirsten: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. If this is true then why has no one done anything to prevent this, or have they?

tyler r: I think that the theme of animal farm is that to much power is bad because in the end you will end up getting greedy and losing it all. Mr. L. Tyler: "...end up loosing it all." What would/could be lost? Who would loose?

Kiesey Solis?: I think the theme to Animal Farm is that;; Someone else doing your thinking for you. Because It's your mind, look where the animals are in life right now. They let the other animals lead them on to a bad situation. And I agree with Mei Hui because having too much power can seriously lead to corruption. Also I believe the theme is those people who are easily led are easily misled. Mr. L. Kiesey: Should we allow others to do our thinking for us, or should we not let others do our thinking for us? Is this ever a good idea?

**December 2, 2008**
Tremon Washington: that sticking together is a good thing when everyone is counting on everyone. Mr. L. Tremon: There is strength in numbers!
 * Do Now:** What can we possibly learn by reading a novel such as //Animal Farm//?

Jaremie A: You can learn valuable lessons, like what happens when your a follower and how you can be easily deceived.

Mr. L: Jaremie, so do share, should leaders never ever follow?

Mr. L: Jaremie, so can a person be both a good follower and a good leader?

Zach H:We can learn that this isn't a perfect world free of coruption. Even the closest goverment to perfection(America) has corruption (every Democrat).so we can't make a perfect society but we can make a happy society.such as the animals have been happy working for the pigs in Animal farm. Jaremie what kind of skills can we learn besides to not be a follwer?

Mr. L. Zach: ROFL! My sides hurt from laughing so hard! What have Democrats done to you? I believe the last several convicted fellons in Alaska have all been Republicans! Now, I'm really curious about the comment, "..the animals have been happy working for the pigs..." Is this true? I do agree that although we will (probably) never achieve a truly "perfect" society, however we should strive for as-perfect a society as humanly possible. The trouble is, "perfect" looks differently to each person asked, "What does perfect look like?"

Mr. L: Zach: P.S. Don't good leaders start out as good followers?

Pauline: We learn that you should always treat someone or sumthing the way you want to be treated. Like in animal farm when Mr. Jones abused the animals, nobody wants to be abused!! I think the message that the author is trying to give in animal farm is that you should always treat everyone the way you want to be treated. =]

Mr. L: Pauline, would you say this message of treat others like you'd like to be treated is a possible theme for the novel?

Pauline: Mr. LaRue, well no but its most of the story.The theme for this story could also be "what goes up must come down" Its kind of like when u do something bad u will get bad back, jus like my quote " do good and deserve good do bad and deserve bad" ! Mr. Jones abused and didnt feed the animals so he got what was coming to him and that was gettin kicked out of his own farm.

Mr. L: Pauline. Exactly what is a theme? We'll discuss it more today in class. A novel may have multi-themes. Your choice is as valid as any other.

jalynn b in a book like this it can show you the bad things and good things on the way people act and that it a thing that you cant learn every day.

Haley aka Bubbles: you can learn about urself in a way. if you apply yourself as the character that resembles u the most you could see urself grow more and more.

Mei Hui Lim: What I think we could learn by reading novels such as Animal Farm is that we are very lucky to live in a society where we have three branches of government that balances the power each branch gets, because in the story too much power could make you become a dictator who only cares for himself and not the people.

->>Kiesey?<<-Well, I think we can learn from this book is that never trust a person without knowing their true character. I mean, you see how other animals broke the rules?

Kendra: i think the message the author is trying to send is we all have things were not proud of, its life. like pauline said you get whats comming back to you. but sometimes you just get all the blame, like boxer he was hard working and he ended up dying in the end. not every story has a happy ending. again its life.

Mr. L: Kendra, can you find episides, incidents, or perhaps themes in Animal Farm which you are able to connect to lessons in your own life? If this in truth, "life," then shouldn't it's message be timeless?

Bao Kang Vang: Something you can learn from reading this book is that even though your place/government is corrupted obeying its laws is still neccessary. Also having the wrong leaders will lead you to the wrong place. Tyler r: I think that the message the authors trying to get out is you dont know how good you got it until you lose or it gets even worse like when they got rid of mr jones because they thought it would turn out better if they created an animal society but in the end it ended up being worse than ever they thopught they had it bad then look at them now.

Charlene Nelson: There are lots of things that we can learn from Animal Farm, we can learn to be a leader like a Nepolion, a follower like Boxer, or you can be your friends own little squealer.

Do Now: **I Will Believe In You**
I Will Believe in You

No matter what you’ve done... I will believe in you. No matter if you are rich or poor... I will believe in you. No matter if your mom or dad is in jail... I will believe in you. No matter what other teachers say... I will believe in you. No matter what your brother or sister did... I will believe in you. No matter where you live... I will believe in you.

AND

I will believe in you until such time as you can begin to believe in yourself!

--Mamie McCullough

The first time I read this poem, I cried. I didn't write it, but I wish I had. Are you strong enough to say how it makes you feel? What is your favorite or least favorite line? Why?

Zach:I liked this poem because in my interpretation it is saying that no matter what has happened someone will believe you can do better just like Boxer in Animal Farm says,"I will work harder" the poet is saying that you can do better.It won't matter if you live in a mansion or in a hut made of scrap metal,no matter if you have a sister or brother has a criminal record, or if your teacher says you're worthless. There will always be a person who can believe in you. And that has really touched me. Mr L: Zach, I truly do hope you've never experienced a teacher saying those words, "You're worthless." I can only speak from personal experience, we teachers may get discouraged by our students' lack of "apparent" effort or desire for excellence from our students, but I pray those words never come out of the mouth of a professional educator.

Jessica Yang: This poem made me feel like i can pick myself up every time i fall down. No matter how difficult life can be, there is always someone there who has faith in you. Like a bird trusting their mother to be there for them when they fall, but can't always depend on her to catch them when they fall. That's when they have to learn to pick themselves up. Mr. L: Jessica, I know you've had a rough couple of months; you may still be experiencing some difficulties, remember I BELIEVE IN YOU! ALWAYS!

Kirsten Z: i've read this poem before. my grampa wrote this poem and sent it to me before he passed away. This poem makes me feel like i can really trust someone who puts faith in me and won't give up. It makes me feel i can accomplish anything if someone can believe in me. My favorite line of the part where it says "No matter what you’ve done... will believe in you." I chose this line as my favorite because it has a meaning to me. To me it's like no matter what you did even if it wasn't a good decison you'll still believe me and put your faith into me because everybody makes mistakes.

Mr.L: Kirsten: I love that your grandpa shared this poem with you! How special is that! Do you believe this type of person exists? Is it even possible to find one person who's willing to take such a risk for us?

Kiesey Solis?:My favorite line is "I will believe in you" since it says it over and over again. It makes me feel like someone out there, cares for me and would believe in me no matter what. My least favorite line is I don't really know. I like this poem.

Mr. L: Kiesey: Do you have someone in your life who "does believe?" I know of someone...:-).

Mei Hui Lim; The poem made me feel that there are people who would believe in you even if you have a really bad background. I favored the line that said, " No matter what your brother or sister did," because sometimes people have high expectation from you because of what your older sister or brother accomplished in the past. I don't really have a least favorite line.

Mr. L: Mei: Do you feel pressure to do more, or extra special things because of your older siblings?

matthew: the poem is good.

Mr. L.: Matthew, wow! That's really deep! Thanks for sharing! Look at the questions. Did you answer them?

Alley R: I like this poem it puts this little feeling of hope in your heart when you read well at least for me. My favorite line is "no matter what you've done........ I will believe in you" This line says every thing i think every body does messed up things in life and there people out there that will always hold it agnist you and remind you about what you did or even hurt you with what you've done. Theres even parents out there if their kids mess up the parent will bug them for ever and some kids feel torn down by it and then they think their parents dont believe in them and most of the time thats not ture the parents do believe in them but still do it and thats not right in my point of veiw. Any way thats what i think of the peom.

Mr. L: Alley: Do you believe parenting is easy? Do you expect perfect-parents? Are you willing to forgive too? Do you share unconditional support for your parents too?

Jaremie A: This poem brought me to a very emotional state, ahhh too many big words, this poem made me tear up, and almost cry. *sniff* My favorite line in this poem is "No matter where you live, I will believe in you". And it's true, many people judge other people by the places they live. The thing that really made start to tear up when I read this line, was thinking about all the kids, that grow up living in the worst places imaginable, having no one to go to, no one to believe in them, trying to get out, it's just too sad. To me, there isn't a line that i don't like.

Mr. L: Jaremie: It takes a very mature young man to write with such honestly. I'm impressed. It's important to consider the work and effort others put forth each and every day so we'll succeed.

Monique L.-Wow, I actually like this poem and it really made me think about all the people out there who have trouble in life and there should be at least one person who "believes in you". My favorite line is "No matter what you have done"...because everyone has made mistakes and some people will judge you based on what you did in the past. Anyways I do not have a least favorite line.

Mr. L: Monique: Everyone of us not only should but really does "need" that one special person who believes in us no matter what. We in turn need to pay this forward by believing in at least one other person too!

Sharione Hudson-I like this poem because it makes me think about the decisions that i make and that I have someone who cares about the things that I don't and should care about. My favorite line was "No matter what you have done.....I will believe in you". I like this because I've made some very bad decisions in my life that still affect me to this day and will continue to affect my life but it's very nice to know that there is someone who will look past all of that.

Mr. L: Sharione, finally I get a well considered response from you. Thank you for sharing! It is so important to have that someone special in our lives; often it's our parents, teachers, clergy, or our friends. Regardless of whom, life can be so tough without that someone to believe in all that we are capable! "Success or Failure aren't determined for us; we make the decision for ourselves!"

Kendra Allen: I like how this person writing this poem says that he will belive in us no matter what life brings you the tough times and the good that he/she will always belive in you untill you can learn to belive in yourself. Mr. L: Kendra, are you blessed with someone in your life who believes in all things "Kendra?"

touchershee:this poem is really good.........really good

Mr. L: Touchershee, OK, you like it, why? What's so good about it? What's your favorite line or lines?

Pauline- This is a real powerful poem to me. It symbolizes that if you mess up and fall on u butt that no matter what you will always have someone that will pick you up and kiss your boo boo's. This poem is all about having faith and believing in yourself and knowing that you WILL always have someone right there to pick you up when you fall, it reminds me of my grandpa. He was always there; when i needed help he was there when i needed comfort he was there when i jus needed a hug he was there. This poem is powerful with its word choice that it too made me tear up because of all the good memories that i had with family and friends. =']i would have to agree with sharione on this one because i have made bad decisions in my life and it is nice to have someone who will forgive you and look past of all of it. Mr. L: Pauline, does having faith in someone mean we should not push, prod, probe, or constantly ask for more? Does having faith not come with some baggage too? Pauline: Mr. LaRue,The definition of faith to me is by one person helping another person! i feel like when we have faith in everybody we expect them to go above and beyond, that could also mean that we are there to push them to their excellance. I have faith in myself and in my friends, everyone inspiers me and gives me faith because i see them have faith in their selves. Everybody has their own way of believing in their selves, by accomplishing something they have never accomplished or by seeing someone have an A in a class that u have a F,D C or even B in so that could make you wanna study more and work harder to get the same grade as they do......i hope u understand what i am trying to explain Mr. LaRue?.

Shae: Hmmm.... this poem shows colors. No, I'm not high, it shows colors. No matter what your brother or sister did, I will believe in you. Ah, I feel the tears TT_TT. No matter if your mom or dad is in jail, I will belive in you. I think its whats that word?...um, Cryptic? The message is in your face, but hidden as well. No matter what, I will belive in you. It doesn't matter what everyone else is around you, I will believe in YOU. The person's focus is trigered on the directed other, not on their background, not on their style, not on whether they look good or if they're cool. If someone calls you out of your name, do you answer? It's not what they call you, it's what you answer to. If a person calls you dum dum, or booger butt, and you answer, that means you are a dum dum or booger butt. But if you choose not to answer, then who are you? You are YOU. ^_^ sorry for babbling.

Mr. L: Shae: I selected this poem because I "share" the same spirit as its author. I get so frustrated, disappointed, tired, and worried about my babies. I want so much for each of you to excel! The apparent lack of drive, motivation, focus, and attention some of my kids pay to their futures simply scares me, for I know all too well that no matter how good a teacher I am, I can do nothing without a willing participant in each of my kids. This poem does show color! I truly do believe in it; if only my kids (all of my kids) believed that I believe!

Charlene Nelson: I love this poem. It is something my mom would say to me. My favorite line in this poem is No matter what your brother or sister did... I will believe in you.I like this one because my brother has done a lot of stupid stuff in his life, but my mom knows i love him and i look up to him, but she knows il always do the right thing and listen to my heart. =D

**November 21, 2008**

 * Do Now**: It's all about Propaganda.


 * Prompt:** How many time during the course of a normal day do you believe you're exposed to propaganda? Exactly how is it used and what do you believe the purpose is?


 * Here's How:**

Propaganda is all around you. Advertisers use it. So do politicians and governments. They all use powerful messages and techniques to get you to think a certain way. For example, you’ve probably been persuaded and influenced by these kinds of propaganda techniques.

a. **name calling** - giving someone or something a bad label. b. **glittering generality** - associating something with a “virtue” word such as “Freedom,” “motherhood,” and “health.” c. **transfer** - making something acceptable by associating it with something that is accepted or approved of. d. **testimonial** - having some respected person say that someone or something is good or bad. e. **plain folks** - winning an audience’s approval by claiming to be “one of the people.” f. **band wagon** - follow the crowd, or “jump on the band wagon.”

zach H.:Propaganda is used to persuade someone or to make you feel a certain way about someone or even yourself.Propaganda can help win elections or win over a country.

lee:none because i'm not well-known. It's use as the citizens' point of view and the purpose of a proganda is to persuade others to think a certain way.

matthew:propaganda is always used your parents used it your brothers and sitsters used it. There is no way you cant excape form propaganda.

I've only heard that
 * ->>>Kiesey? A: Name calling is used when someone gets pissed off at someone and call them a foul word.

Mei Hui Lim: I think we're exposed to propaganda everyday because we listen to radio about what is a good place to eat, T.V. commercials, and at school where we call people a really bad name making everyone call someone by that. Propaganda is used to persuade people that they need to get that product to make their life more easier. I think the purpose of propaganda is to make people go out and buy their product because either their favorite celebrities are using them or other types of reason.

Kendra Allen: I agree with Mei. We hear it all the time without us noticing it. We also use it ourselves alot. I never notice I do but once i really hear what I say I notice I do. So yea like Mei said we lisen to it on the radio and on t.v. so thats pretty kool. Tyler r: I agree with matthew that the is now way to escape propaganda unless your all by yourself in the middle of nowhere. SHAE: At first I didn't know what propaganda really was. I had heard it used in term a few times, but I didn't really look it up. I know a few people who use propaganda all the time. I notice that people do ride the band wagon. I used to do that too, until I was slapped with reality. When you grow up and move out of your parents house, will you get very far following everyone else on that band wagon? I think there maight be some good band wagons, and I also think that there are bad ones. I've heard many times that your "friends" will show their backside and high tail it out of your life if you chose to be different. Only your true friends will remain. So, should we get on the band wagon and follow someone else's demands, or should we take life by the bull horn and ride ride ride? ^_^

November 17, 2008
Responding to a quote:

"**Success or failure are not chosen for us; we choose them for ourselves."** sharione- my quote is "families first". I chose this quote because i really believe that family should come first in any situation.

I am Tom and Mabel's middle boy, Arthur. My folks had an 8th grade education. My father never earned more than 34K in any single year. And yet, he and my mom raised four children, bought and paid for their home, and spent nearly 50-years together. We choose our own path; we make our own decisions, and in the end no one else is responsible for our success. I pray each night for my middle school students to understand just how much power they have right now in determining their success or failure; they'll choose either for themselves sooner than they believe. Mr. L

Do Now: Respond to your quote here:
Liyah Tyler:The quote I picked from the raven was "Nothing is more important than friendship" This quote is very important because friendship is one of the most important things in life.Without friends I wouldnt be who I am today. They help through the good times and the bad times.Without friends you wouldnt have anyone to share your secrets with.It's also good to have friends to make memories with them so you can you can go back later on in life and laugh.friends are really important to me because good friends dont come around alot so you have to keep the ones you have and treat them right so they stick a round and if they dont treat you right then you just have to let them go and go on with the ones who treat you right and hope they stick around.Thats why friendship is so important to me....

Do Now:respond to propaganda here:
Sharione Hudson:I can't even imagine how many times daily i am exposed to propaganda especially when i watch television.

Bao Kang Vang: I clicked the wrong page, sorry. The quote I chose from the raven was, "I am faithful to the wind but compared to it I am powerless". To me this quote feels like a religeous phrase. What I think it means is that is like God's term. You are more like a follower; letting things push you around following wherever it goes.

Jaremie A: Bao, I like your quote,it's one of those very unique ones that have a cool meaning to it.

Tori Sieber: my quote was deleted! Anywho.... my quote was " Nothing is more important than friendship" To me friendship is the best thing you can have. Friends are there when the skies are grey or when your feeling blue, they help you up when you fall down. I don't know what I would do without my friends, they always help me when I'm in sticky situations. In a funny way my friends are the peanut butter to my jelly, the macaroni to my cheese. I'd be lost without them. Miserable in a dark and hallow space. Thats why my friends are the center of my world. The world doesn't revolve around me, in a way, I revolve around my friends!

Zach:SOMEONE KEEPS DELETING M WORK! My quote was"peace cannot be kept by force,but by achieving" I wrote i chose this because I cannot achieve in keeping the peace at home when my lil brother stirs up trouble. AND SOMEONE DELETED IT!!!! It turns out that since I did it on friday it was scrolled down sorry.

matthew: some one deleted my work but any way my Quote is that I HAVE A GREAT HOME. The reason I chosed that is because if i lived with my mom i wouldnt have a place called home. So thats why I choosed that quote.

Jessica Yang: "Families First" To me this quote means a lot. Your always going to have you family by your side through the good & bad times of you life! You can't depend on your friends to always be there for you, or can't always depend on yourself. Thats when your family comes in, you know they're there for you when you need them. So Family comes first in my dictionary!

touchershee: my quote is "have something to eat" to me this quote means alot. u have to eat right. am i right? and beside i love to eat

Mr. L: Touchershee: Where's your explanation for why you chose this quote?

Brian J: i dunno what happened to my other post but mine said "Peace cannot be forced but by acheiving understanding" or something like that.

Mr. L: BJ: Where's the justification or reason why you picked this quote from all the others available?

I chose this quote because I believe how you treat someone is how you want to be treated so if you treat someone bad it's going to come back to you and that's how someone will start treating them. If you treat someone like crap they'll treat you like crap. Especially if you work or go to school with lots of people. Theres no reason to treat them bad and then get mad when there just doing what you did to them. So if you treat people good they'll treat you good. That's what i believe. -Kirsten Z
 * "treat others how you want to be treated"**

Sharione_My quote is "families first". I chose this quote because I really believe that family should come first in any situation.

Mr. L: Kirsten: OK, I hate to sound like a broken record, but where is your explanation of why?

Chiken nuggts (aka) pauline=] lol My quote is "do good and u will deserve good do bad and u will deserve bad" I picked this quote because if you try your best u can achieve what u didn't think is possible in other words if u work hard and put your effort into it then u will deserver good. This quote is a real powerful saying and thats why I picked it.

Mr. L: Pauline: You forgot the other half of the quote: "do bad and you should expect bad." You also haven't justified why you chose this quote.

Jaremie A: OHH NO MINES GONE!!!! any ways, it a said,

"Nothing is more important than friendship"

I picked this one because everyone needs friends, no one deserves not to have friends, no matter who you are. You need friends because you can tell friends things that you can't tell your parents and they'll understand.

matthew: jaremie i like that quote because you need someone to talk that understands you.

Mr. L: Jaremie: Thanks for completing the assignment correctly. Have you read Mei's comments below? She seems at-odds with what you wrote. Do you have a response for Mei?

Jaremie A: No I don't, their both very true.

MasterRussell_13: mei and jaremie i argee with both of you but best friends will never change no matter what and thats is why they are your best friend. right?

Mei Hui Lim: " Family First," reminded me of how important putting your family first is so important. You can't just think that your best friends is going to be with you forever, cause your relationship could change in time, but your family are always there for you.

Mr. L: Mei: Thanks for a complete response.

Sarah Redmon: My quote is "When I get hurt I doctor myself" This quote means to me that when I get in to trouble I don't depend on other people to get me out because I got myself in the mess so I have to get myself out.

Mr. L: Sarah, nice work. I wasn't sure if students would correctly interpret the meaning behind this quote.

Tyle r : Nothing is more Important than friendship I believe this is a great quote because without friends you feel like your just some kid lost in there own world all by themself not knowing what to do or how to work with someone or how to interact with anyone, you dont know how they feel or what they think or how they do stuff. Your just like an blank piece of paper not knowing what to do next, like your all alone by yourself with nothing to do and nobody to share your thoughts with or feels or likes and dislikes. Thats why I think its best to always have someone that you have a really strong friendship with so you now that you always have someone to express you feelings with and to share memories with .And Its also good to have lots of friends so that you can talk and hangout with different people so you become a more well rounded person.ANd dont forget that its always good to be well liked.

Mr. L: Tyler, I moved your quote and response to the correct location, under the prompt. YOu did a very nice job relating your quote and your justification for selecting it.

Jasmine: When I get hurt I doctor myself. I chose the quote because it really means a lot to me. I think this quote means that you dont always need some one there to help you and you can help yourself and you shouldn't bring people into your mess because your the one who caused it. That sometimes its better you do it yourself.

chasity-Nothing is more important than friendship" This is a good one because you sometimes need friends to talk too you when you have problems ...some people say that they dont need friends and they do ...everybody needs friend ....so i love this quotes alot because everyone needs friend

Mr. L: Chasity, welcome to wiki! I moved your quote and comments to where they should have been posted. Remember to organize your work under the correct date and prompt. Nice job; remember to check your spelling and grammar before saving your work. Many folks will read your work, and it does reflect the writer.

Shae: Um, mine was the same as Bj's, but I'll respond anyway, "Peace cannot be kept by force, but by achieving understanding." Can you really keep peace by forcing it? Peace, in my opinion, does not come across as a forceful action. You must understand peace to really acheive it. Does that make sense? I think so, maybe I'm just enlightened, and not everyone else is.

Shae: I would like to Respond to Mei's comment, about family comes first. You are absolutely correct. Family does come first. Friends can be your family as well. Take for instance, your friends arrive at every special event that you have, but some of your family don't show. Is that the same? To me, yes. Friends are your family, if you have the right friends. Other wise, they aren't friends at all, they're just acquaintances.

Kirsten Z: ShaeLisa I like your quote ALOT! i believe that you can't force Peace because it's true that you can't force it you have to understand and achieve it. I like it. it's a great quote.

Alley R: my quote is "we are not moving forward you are moving backward" I like this quote, I think it means like we are doing fine in life and you are'nt so maybe you should look at what you are doing wrong.

Jalynn B: god dang it someone deleted my work can you please teach them how to do this with out deletin my work and others!!!!!! but any way my quote was "families first" to me family is really important and they are something that we only get a certain number of and they cant be replaced ones your gone. And to me i would die if i did not have my mom and dad and a lot of other people.

Charlene Nelson: My quote is, "I am faithful to the wind but compared to it I am powerless". I choose this quote because it decribes me in a whole different way. To me it's saying that the wind is strong and nothing can over power it, but compared to it, your not as strong, but you want to. But sometimes you just break down and cry and you can't stop the tears from coming down.

Kiesey Solis: My quote is "Family First", because to me family is iMPORTANT... I need my family by my side. I always put my family first. Because they're the reason why I'm here in my life right now. They bring me up when I am down. Family is life, everything with them, it's there... Your heart, mind, house, etc. LOL. Well, anyways, I like Jaremie's quote, because it's true. You can tell friends things you can't tell your family. I also like Charlene's quote, it's very... "STRONG" It can describe other people. It means something like you are strong, but without the thing you need, you are weak.

Kendra allen. Ummm i thought i already did this but I guess not. My quote is nothing is more important than friendship. I think it means that no matter what you do having fun is more important.

Sierra Torgramsen: My quote is One world one sound many voices heard but ignored,bold but silent. One wold one sound means to me there is people who have way a of expressing themselves or something with there voice. Heard but ignored to me means some people have their voice heard and some don't. Bold but silent to me means if they make there voice appear to people they may be heard but some people are to scared to let others know they actually have a voice in which there considered silent.

**Nov. 13, 2008:**
6th Period: Today you had to select a motto, phrase, or quote from the "Ravens." Now, I'd like you to share your selection with the class and your reasons for your selection. This is a free write, therefore the format is entirely up to you.

Writing Prompt: If you had to write one final page to explain what happens after the police leave Mary Maloney's home, how would you end this short story?

Bao Kang Vang: As the detectives and police officers had stuffed their bellies, they thanked for the meal and went back to the station. Mary Maloney shut the door after them at headed upstairs. That night as Mary Maloney slept, she heard noises coming from downstairs. She shook under her covers and whispered sighletly, "Please stop, please stop." The noises stopped. She squeezed the blanket edges under her. Mary Maloney then woke up the next morning and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast ready for her. As she opened her fridge it creacked a loud sound that has never happened before. She peeked inside just to find the same lambchop as the one she had used to kill her husband. Mary stumbled in fear and and questioned, "Why is this happening?" Three months past by and Mary Maloney had her baby boy, as she held her baby boy in her arms and named him Matthew. As she was holding Matthew she noticed something very familiar, she noticed that Matthew had the same face as her husband. She panicked and and told the doctor," Grab my baby boy away from me!" Then in the corner of the room stood a tall broad shadow. Mary Maloney glanced at the dark shadow shivering as chills came upon her. In a quick instant the shadow was gone. Mary Maloney had to sleep in the hospital for quite a few days before she could go home. She slept that night feeling a presence. The air was cold and the room was dark. Surely she tried not to sleep. Eventually she knocked out. She had a dream that night, a dream she never dreamed to have. In her dream her husband came and hovered above her saying, "Do not harm my child or I will harm you!" Mary Maloney woke up from her sleep and suggested to do what her dream has told her. Mary Maloney went home finally and took baby Matthew with her of course. Matthew cried many nights at home and pointed at nothing many times. Matthew's actions frightened Mary Maloney. Mary Maloney kept very well care of Matthew. As years went by and Matthew had turned six, Matthew told her mom what he has been seeing. He said to her mom, "Mom every night a strange man appears in my dream and tells me to.......never mind." Mary Maloney was puzzled and scared at the same time curious to know what he said and not wanting to know who said for she knew. When Matthew turned thirteen, he decided to do what the man in his dreams told him to do. Matthew figured that the man in his dreams was his dad. Matthew changed the plans the man told him to do and did something else instead. That day as Mary Maloney had gone to a friend's house Matthew rode his bike to the police station. He barged into the station and hollered," Mary Maloney was the one who killed my dad thirteen years ago. She took her frozen lambchop and killed my daddy." No one belived him. They all laughed and stared at Matthew. Matthew was outraged and burst into madness. He ran back home and cried in his room by the corner. Matthew then critically suggested that the plan that'll work was the one from his dream. Matthew saw his mom coming to the door, Matthew went into the kitchen and got a large lambchop from the fridge and waited by the door. The door popped open and Matthew swung the lambchop right on his mom. His mom crashed to the floor and Matthew dragged her inside. Matthew quickly popped the oven open and cooked the lambchop. Matthew went to the toy store and got a boardgame. He told the cashier,"Will this game be good for mom and I to play with tonight?" The cashier nodded and smiled at Matthew. Mathew went home and acted as if he didn't know what happened to his mom and called the polce. The police rushed right over and got every hint and information of what had happened when Mathhew came home. Matthew told them,"I came home from After school program today and went to go get a boardgame for my mom and I to play and I saw her....dead!" Police officers went to the toystore and asked for information from the cashier and then stopped. One of the detectives informed his partner,"Isn't today Saturday, there's no after school program today."

Zach H:I would end the story by having Mary Malone's house repoed as a karma thing and then she would end up sleeping in her neighbor's home who was peaking through the window. and the neighbor tries to get a recorded confession by setting up all this crazy things that could make her remember what happened that night.

Mr. L: Zach, I don't get it. What's the character motivation for this neighbor? Why would she/he bother. I also don't understand the "karma" thing.

Zach H:The character's motivation is she was a great freind to both Mr. and Mrs.Maloney. And karma is what goes around come's around and since she did a bad thing a bad thing (going to prison) is going to happen to her by this neighbor, kinda like the Deliverer of Justice or the good citizen who calls the cop's when things go wrong.

Mr. L. Zach: OK, now it's more clear; remember you must consider each element of fiction for your story to truly work. I love the dialogue between students too.

matthew: This my way the story would end Mary calls her grilfriend up after the officer left. Mary told her girrlfiend wat she and her friend went staright to the cops and told that Mary Molone killed her hubannd. One officer said " no way I no Mary Moloney and the officer ask if she did it and she said no it was mary '' the officer thought she was lieing and took her to Jail.

Mr. L: Matthew: Where's your evidence? Does it make sense that the cops would believe her just because she said so?

Zach H: Mathew why would you have it end like that? And i don't understand why we both chose someone go to prison. I've decided instead of going to prison she goes cookoo and to prison. I mean the wack house. Okay i gotta go see ya at class tomorrow people.

matthew: Hey Zach the reason i choose her to go to jail is that I thought someone had to go to jail other wise the story would never end.

Mr. L: Zach and Matthew: Great work together, even better questions. You must cover all the angles. Think about it; would she do that and leave her baby behind?

Zach H:Mr.L thanks for the complement.Mathew the story does'nt have to end with someone in prison but it does have to end somehow so great job.

JasmineKim: 3 months came and it was time for the baby to come. Mary spent her last 2 months getting ready since the last month she couldn't move she had one of her husbands workers help her out. Everyday she sat in her rocking chair thinking about the last night she got to spend with her husband. She grew depressed more and more everyday but remembered why she did it, making her happier only by a little. She woke up to find her covers wet. She hurried and called Luther the man who was helping her. His voice came on slow and quite. Mary screamed into the phone "Its time!" Their was a click on the other line. Mary grabbed her bag and pushed it down the stairs and waited. No more than 2 minutes Luther came. He grabbed her bag and threw it into the back. Mary got into the back set and laid down. Luther went zooming onward to the hospital. When they arrived she was hurried off. Her screams sent Luther chills down his back. He rushed by her side and than was separated at the door. He heard her screams of pain and did nothing. Soon he heard baby's cry and walked in. Mary look tried and soon feel asleep. He took the baby into his hands. It was a spitting image of her father. Mary looked at her son, Blake and smiled. He looked so much like his father. She saw as he walked around the house. A knock came and the babysitter came, scooping him into his arms and saying hello. She smiled and went up to her room as the sitter came and took him. She lied in bed and sobbed like the days she's done before. She missed him and regretted everything even if he was going to leave her. She loved him with every thing she had. The tears hit her pillow like a rain fall. She stopped when she saw her pillow covered in rain and makeup. Breathing in and out she went up to the bathroom and cleaned her self up before her son came home. She did this the rest of her life until her death bed came. She called her son up and he came. Tears in his eyes. She spoke words which made his face turn into hatred and with that she feel into a long sleep.
 * 3 years later.*

Mr. L: Jasmine: This is more believable than some I've read this evening! This is a sad ending, but still it could happen.

Zach H:Jasmine a guy would definently NOT babysit. Do any of the guys in the class room look like they would babysit lil slobbery babies for below minimum wage of the state ecspecialy since we got those $50 to $80 sweaters on most of the time?You would'nt see me doing that.And did'nt she die?who did she call in the last few seconds?

Mr. L: Zach: Never say never about baby sitting!

Kirsten Z: About 4 months after Mary served the detectives the lamb and got rid of the evidence she was sitting on a rockingchair feeding her new born baby their was a knock on the door and when she went to open the door no one was there. So she put the baby to bed and was getting ready to go to sleep and then she heard a knock on the door again, but this time the knocking was really hard so she got a pair of scissors and had them in her hand, but when she opened the door no one was there. Now she was getting really nervous,but eventually fell asleep. Later on that night she heard a knock again,but the knocking was at her bedroom door and she was REALLY SCARED! Then the door slammed open! and she saw the spirit of her husband! He looked at her and told her " since you killed me, its my turn for revenge on your soul" and then in a instant he swiftly went through her body and took her soul and right after the detectives wanted to check on her ,then they noticed the front door was open which was pretty unusual in the middle of the night. So they went in the the baby was crying and then they checked the next room and there lying dead as a door nail was Mrs.Malonys body. The detectives called the police station and the house was confiscated, but they couldn't find anything, But then one of the detectives checked her bed and they found a diary. The diary stated everything that she did (including killing her husband) and how her plan to get rid of the evidence worked. The detectives were shocked! They felt so played by Mrs. Malonys great plan! and for the baby he was put with mrs.malonys sister/family.

Mr. L: Kirsten: I really enjoyed your ending. If she went temporarily insane, would it cost her -her soul? Don't you get points for being driven nuts and being 6-months pregnant? Exactly what did her husband tell her that made her slip away? "She couldn't feel her feet."

Say, would real cops be so easy to admit messing up their part of the investigation? I'm not so sure they'd be so eager to confess to less than perfect police work police work.

Charlene Nelson: Years passed, and Mary's son was turning 16. He goes up to his mom and asks," Why don't we ever talk about dad?" Mary looks at him and turns to the kitchen table where he was baking his cake. "Mom? Did you hear me?" Her son said."Yes I heard you hun." Mary told him. " Well why don't we?". Mary ignored the question and continued to bake his cake. Her son goes upstairs and lays his head on his pillow wondering why his mom won't answer his question. He gets up and goes into his mom's room hoping to find something about his dad. He goes through her drawers and under the bed. He opens her closet and looks through the cloths that were hanging up. Suddenly he finds all these newspapers way back before he was born. He sees a picture of his dad, but before he can read anything he's mom comes in and yells, "What are you doing?!" He looks at her with a blank look on his face,"Uh uh well I was just nothing just looking for something," he studders. " What are you looking for in my closet?" He looks at her again and just rushes out before anyone says anything else. That night, he couldn't sleep at all because all these questions where going through his mind. Why where there old newspapers in her closet? Why did she keep them all these years? The questions where haunting him. He couldn't take anymore. So he got out of bed and went to his mom room. Very quietly, he creepped through his mom's room and opened her closet, he hurried and took the newspaper and rushed out of the room. He went to his room turned on the lights and starting reading the newspapers. While he was done reading them, his jaw dropped in shock! He never knew his dad got murdered! At this point, even more questions where going through his mind. Why would someone murder him? Who murdered him? Did this person get caught? Why didn't his mom tell him this? He was anticipating for the answers! The next mourning, he is still layinged with eyes wide open with constant wondering! It's about 9:00 am and he goes down stairs and he sees his mom cooking breakfest. "Everything alright son?" Mary asks. "Uh yeah. I'm fine." But really, he wasn't. work

jalynn: several years past before the case went any wear, one day the cops came bye and they said that it way just for a visit. In her mind she knew that that was not it. And finally they asked her did you do it? In her mind she just laughed but she said "no i loved him and there was no resign for me to kill him." later on in the year they had another little visit and again they asked the say question and agin she said no. a couple years went agin and one day the cops showed up and they said " please with me you are under arrest." they had got some new technology and realized that she had feed them the weapon and not they knew that she had forced them to eat it. she went to coart and got life with parol she was happy top her he deserved it.

Kiesey Solis =D: Everynight in Mary's sleep Mr. Malony visits her. Just staring at her. She sees him in her dream. Mr. Malony saying "Why did you kill me, why did you kill me" over and over and over again. Mary would always wake up screaming. Her daughter, lets just call her Malery, would run to her mom's room and ask "What's wrong mother?", Mary would answer" Just a bad dream" The next morning Malery woke up, stretched and saw someone standing by her door. She couldn't really see who it was. So she was walking towards it. By the time she was there it disappeard. She was in terrible shock!! So she quickly ran to the living room to her mom. She said" Mother there was someone standing in my room!!" her mom said "WHAT?!?!?! You're crazy, we two only live here", later on through the day they went out to shop and bought new clothes. Malery noticed something in the back seat. She was too scared to check. When they arrived home it was time to get ready for bed, they were EXAUGHSTED!! So Malery changed her clothes into jammies and went to bed. The next day it was Malery's 18th birthday. She woke up, again, someone standing there, she wiped her eyes and next thing you know, it was gone. So she just ignored it, she heads out to the kitchen and asked her mom, "Ma, why don't you ever tell me about daddy?", Mary replied with " GOOD MORNiNG BABY!", Malery just left and said "Thanks" on the way out the door. "MOM i'M HEADiNG OVER TO MY FRiENDS HOUSE!" she yelled. Mary just kept silent. On the way, she saw bloody, footprints from a human on the side walk. She was scared! So she sprinted to her friends house, Rebecca. She told Rebecca EVERYTHiNG about what's been happening, all those scary signs, shadows, and such. Rebecca was a phsychic. So she got her Ouija board and called the spirit who been bothering Malery. "Oh happy birthday by the way" Rebecca stopped to say. Malery said "Thank you". They tried to call it. But it wouldn't work. Later on, Malery decided to go home. She noticed the lights were off and it was dead silent. When she entered the house a great, loud "SUPRISE" was heard. She jumped and laughed. "Happy 18th birthday Malery" she heard from everyone. She had NO clue there was a suprise party. She noticed there was someone there she didn't know. This guy looked like her. She gots his eyes. She looked away for awhile then when she looked back he wasn't there anymore. Malery headed upstaires to change into party clothes. She found this notebook under her bed. She decided to read it. It said "Dear my daughter, Malery. This is your father. I was killed one night, in the kitchen by your mother. She haven't told you anything about this, and I tried to tell you but you just kept running away. Everynight I watch over you hoping to hold you in my arms, but how can I? I am just a plain old ghost to your eyes", she felt a cold breeze and shivered, she read more " Throughout the years I thought of you. My daughter, how I wish I wasn't dead, I would show you the world, I would give you the first dance, I would give you a better life, Malery, my dear Malery, how I wish I was there when you first came to this world. It'd be my best day ever. I got to go now, for the lord has shown me the light, my sweet Marlery, happy 18th birthday, till then... Love, you father." Malery bursted out crying. She ran downstaired and started hitting her mother with tears coming down her face yelling "HOW CAN YOU KiLL DADDY, HOW DARE YOU!! i THOUGHT YOU LOVED HiM MOTHER i CAN'T BELiEVE YOU DiD THiiSSS!!" Everyone was looking at them. Mary tried to stop her but she couldn't, she was so embarassed that she couldn't speak or look anywhere else. The police was even there. They took Malery and hand cupped Mary. Malery couldn't stop the tears coming down her face, her birthday was ruined. The people, all her friends, were there supporting her. Shortly, they left. Malery had to move in Rebecca's house. She still can't believe her own mother murdered her father. Though she lived her life, trying to forget this happened, but her dad was always there, watching over her... So then Malery continued the Malony family. She found the love of her life and started a family. She didn't say anything to anyone. So it was just a secret. Years later, Mary got out of jail. She was hoping to see Malery again. SiKE! Like Malery would want to see her mother again. But one day, they saw eachtoher. Malery just stood there. Her mother slowly headed her way, and hugged her. Malery didn't do anything. She just walked away, and never looked back. Her mother was ill, she didn't know. So Mary had a stroke. How Malery broke down crying running to her mom. She was saying "Sorry mom sorry!" Mary quickly took her hand and said "No, I am sorry. I just wanted attention from your dad, but he kept ignoring me, I-i wasn't thinking, I-i di-didn't mean to", Mary said trying to explain everything " I am truly sorry" Mary slowly died. A week later it was time for her funeral. Malery was there saying "Forgive me my mother", with tears running down her face.

Mei Hui Lim: (NEXT DAY) It was sunday morning when Mrs.Maloney would usually go to church. As soon as she got there, she went straight for the confession box thinking the priest shouldn't be here so early in the morning she began to confess," Please forgive me I have done a sin, I killed my husband. I didn't have a choice, but to stop him from leaving me for Julie, Patrick's new colleague, I knew she was trouble from the start. I couldn't face it, raising Patrick's child while watching him be happy with another woman. I just couldn't do it. So I swung all my anger at him with the only thing I had and at the time a lamb and there he was on the floor, I was so happy at the time, but realized it was a mistake." There Mrs. Maloney started to weep. Then there was a sound that seemed to come closer and closer, it was the sound of a police siren surround the entire church. It was found out that Father Anthony was actually there listening to everything he was told and dialed 911. It was decide in court that Mrs. Maloney was charged for convicting murder, lying to police, and actually serving the evidence to the cops. She was sentence for life behind bars, but was able to give birth to her beautiful girl, who was given up for adoption.

Tremon Washington: The very next day the wife felt bad for killing her husband but in her head she thought he deserved it for what he did! But she had her child and named him Larry. After Larry got out of high school the subject came up of what happened to my father.She told him what happened and after the conversation he didn't talk to her for a month. But they got past it and everything got back to normal.

Tyler r: A couple weeks went by and mrs maloney was thinking about why she even did it in the first place and how she was going to lie to her son or daughter about how his/her dad died she couldnt handle the pressure at times she had felt like killing her self but then she decided to end up having the baby and then giving it up for adoption. so she held herself some how together till the day of the adoption. Then three days later she totally had a mental and snapped she went to the highest building in the city she lived in and went to the very tippy top and then she was about to jump but then mr Maloney somehow miracalously came back to life and threw her of the building. THE END

touchershee:the next day the police came and said to mrs maloney, "u r underarrest by killing ur husband. mrs maloney waz like wat? the police said to her," the neighbor saw u " the police told her that shes going to jail forever, forever, forever. the end.

Alley R: OK Mrs.Maloney went on the next couple months waiting for the baby not really thinking about what she had done to her husband just knowing that he was gone and she was happy. Then the baby came and in the hospital she looked at the baby and realized that the baby would one day ask about his father and what happened to him and she really didnt care that Mr.Maloney was dead but she did care that the baby was not going to have its father and she didnt think that was right. So she gave it to a family that had a mother and father and told them not to tell the baby that they were not his real parents intill he was 15 years old. They agreed but still asked why and Mrs.Maloney said that you would find out when he was 15. She left the baby with the family and went on with her life never thinking about Mr.Maloney and the times that he would pop in her head she would just laugh, thinking how dumb he was. You would now think that Mrs.Maloney was crazy but really shes just really happy so don't get it confuzed. She did not get to tell the kid at 15 that she was his real mother and his dad had been killed because the kid died in a car crash at the age of 10. When Mrs.Maloney found out she was kinda sad but not that sad because now there was nothing to make her ever think of Mr.Maloney again. She was so happy and did so much in life that she wanted to do. She meet different guys almost remerried once but changed her mind at the last min and ran off with a new guy leaving the other guy at the church. One day Mrs.Maloney went on top of her apartment building and jumped off and died. She left a note behind saying that she "killed Mr.Maloney and she was proud". in the end Mr. Mrs.Maloney and the baby died. So if you think this ending was not left on good thought then i have completed what i wanted to get across and that is that not every story has a good ending and that some things are not happy.

Kendra Allen. Babys born and there is a new member in the family. She had a baby boy. Years past and no dad to help take care of the baby. Kindergarten started and still no dad. A couple more years whent by and finally high school came. He asked his mom what happened and why he had never met his dad before. His mom didn't answer. He finally read some papers she had kept all thoughts years. An article in the paper with big bold words saying "MISSING HUSBAND" with a whole bunch of words but with Mrs. Maloney's name in it. Looked atthe date.... "HOLLY CRAP THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO!" HE SAID. He whent around town and asked people if they had ever seen him or anything before. He whent to the store keeper (same guy Mrs. maloney had been to the night Mr. maloney had died) he said he was good friends with the family. Told him what happened how he had somehow died. He did some detective work asking EVERYONE possible. He went to the police station and found some folders of his fathers case. How they had found some meatle on the back of his head. It also said that there was no evidance on who killed him. So he went back to the store keeper and asked if anyone came to the store the same night arround the same time his father died. The store keeper said yes, your mother came in and bought some food for dinner. He said how Mrs. maloney told him that Mr.Maloney didn't want to go out that night. And once the store keeper said that it all ran to his head. "What if i'm the son of a killer?" he asked himself. He went to the detectives that were at the crime scene. That is if they still work there. He found out they retired about 2 years ago. He tracked down were the retired police man lived. He found him. Asked him what she made that night. The police man said she made peas and some other stuff. Also had Some pieces of a turkey leg. "Tasted good!" he said. The boy left. He went to his mother and asked her what happened that night when his dad died. She look at him with a nervious face asking what he had ment by DIED.... He put all the blame on her telling her about what the store keeper said to what the police officer said. Finally she came out and said it. "I DIDNT MEAN TO! HE JUST DIDNT RESPECT WHAT I GAVE HIM! I WAS TIRED OF IT, SO I KILLED HIM! He deserved what he had comming to him. Trust me you'll thank me. Someday you will." "AHHHA" He exclamed. I finally cought you. He showed his mom the TAPE RECORDER he had behind his back. He ran to the police station and showed them the recording. They ran to Mrs. Maloneys house and arrested her for 25 years for the case of murder. She soon escaped from prison and was never seen again. MUAHHAHHAH.