IQ

Roland Smith writes with a great sense of vivid imagery. He uses elevated words to describe concrete objects that let the reader interact with the story by visualizing the object based on what Smith has created. The quote, “Boone paused the DVD.  We lifted it from Eben Lavi’s computer while he was being detained in Nevada.  It was encrypted, but my tech guy is very good.  This is fresh Intel and we’re still putting things together, but this video is a big part of the puzzle.” This quote is an example of great writing performed by Smith since it includes various examples of good writing craft.

The first sentence is an example of a telegraphic sentence that is very straight forward with what is going on in that scene.  The use of vivid verbs like lifted and detained shows variety in his writing and shows elevated diction as most writers would most likely choose lower elevated words that wouldn’t explain the scene like Smith did in that quote. The use of encrypted as an elevated word is then followed by purposeful casual diction just shows how diverse Smith is in his writing. Lastly, Smith incorporates a metaphor at the end to plant the idea of how important the DVD is to solving even though they still need a lot more pieces by comparing it to a big puzzle. Roland Smith is  a great author. He uses syntax strategies, elevated diction, and great imagery.

Roland Smith shown with his novel IQ

IQ Creative Idea from Author

Roland Smith has done a great job in writing this book. He describes the characters that makes the reader visualize what is going on as well as the setting. He also has a very creative idea of writing the plot. The main group, Q and his friends, are challenged with the other group which consists of terrorists. About a two thirds of the book is written from the point of view of Q and his group and the last third is written from the point of view from the terrorist group. This gives us basically two sides of the story which can be confusing at times but i believe it is very interesting as is incorporated very well throughout this book. Roland Smith has done a very well job in writing this book and he just makes me want to keep on reading his novel.

Krista Ramsey

The column that I chose dealt with the problem and decision many schools face around America--should teachers carry weapons in the case of an unfortunate event? This piece of writing deals with Krista's opinion on the occasion and also provides reasoning, and at the end, it also has an idea for the readers to take action on this topic. Read Full Column Here. 

The quote, "Despite the emotionally charged images painted by the plan's promoters – including children being shot and thrown off school rooftops by al-Qaida operatives – this is a topic to be approached with caution and dispassion. School shootings are tragic beyond imagining, and all of us should apply our best thinking and resources to prevent them. But sending weapons into schools – the vast majority of which have not been and will not be the scene of violence – is the most unwise of solutions," is filled with a variety of writing craft. The use of various hyphens lengthens the sentence without making it just long a boring. She also uses a variety of examples that lead to this topic being brought up in schools which include very explicit ideas. She states her claim in this "topic" sentence and just outlines what she will state later in her column.

Some patterns found in her writing include some of the following: she states her claim near the beginning like, “the vast majority of which have not been and will not be the scene of violence – is the most unwise of solutions,” and “Dr. Joseph Clark, a professor of neurology and rehabilitative medicine with UC Health, worries that it’s shrinking it.” Those quotes both outline what she will be talking about later in her column. Also, in those quotes, there is pieces of evidence. These include: Dr. Joseph Clark and the children being shot and thrown off buildings. She is very straightforward and I think that is because she can’t write novels on these topics, they have to be short and sweet.

What has been your greatest challenge being a columnist?

What education did you receive to become a columnist?

What makes you come to work and write columns many times throughout the week?

IQ Independence Hall - Characterization

Boone has been one of the major characters that has a role in this novel. The family had encountered him on their way across the country and he seemed to be a mechanic. Boone doesn't travel alone- he travels with his dog. The dog's name is Crokett. The quote, "The dog had a broad flat head, pointed ears, a cropped tail, dusty gray fur, one brown eye, and one really weird blue eye that looked like it could see right through me." That quote describes Crokett alone and not only does it describe the dog but also its owner. Everyone says the dog is very similar to the owner and that dog description will give us an idea on its owner who is Boone.

Without inferring, Boone's description is stated on page 36 with the quote, "Standing in front of me was an old man with a long gray beard and matching hair braided halfway down his back.  He had pale eyes, either light blue or gray. He was thin, tan, and wrinkled like a desert tortoise that had misplaced his shell."  With that quote and description, we now know some of the characters that accompany Q. The use of the simile to describe Boone to a tortoise, is very effective. I can visualize the extremity of his characteristics and can understand the pivotal role he might have in later events.IQ Character Link

IQ Preview and Predictions

I have began to read the book IQ by Ronald Smith. This is the first book of the series which consists of 4 total books.  Roland Smilth has written various novels before. Some of these include; Tentacles, the IQ series, Cryptid Hunters, Sasquatch, Peak, and numerous others. He is 62 years old, graduated from Portland State University, and is married to Marie Smith. Q, the main character in this novel, has parents that are involved with the government. His parents have just gotten married therefore making Angela Q's step sister. They are very close with each other and have a strong relationship with each other. Their parents work together and that leads to them traveling together across the United States in their recreational vehicle. They have encountered a straggler along the way. His name is Boone and i believe he will be playing a major role in this novel. My prediction is that the whole family will go to Independence Hall (book is called IQ Independence Hall) and get involved with the government. The book has been interesting so far and i believe it will start to pick up as i progress through this novel.

Utopian Societies - Text to Text Connections

Fahrenheit 451 deals with the intriguing idea of utopia. A utopia is "Used to mean both an ideal society and also one that doesn't exist anywhere," according to The Utopian Vision of the Future article. The article states many ideas on what a utopia is, the history of utopia, and various examples of Utopian societies. Some Utopian societies include Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, Harrison Bergeron and many other forms of literature. Like the article shows, Oscar Wilde's quote, "any map that doesn't have utopia on it is not worth looking at," that quote shows how Utopian societies are not currently existing but are not far away. Fahrenheit 451 is an example of this theory since it the setting takes part not that far from now.

The books that deal with Utopian societies that i have read, mostly deal with the idea that Utopian societies are not as good as everyone thinks they are. In Harrison Bergeron, beauty, intelligence, and freedom are stripped from its citizens. In The Giver, Utopian society is percieved mostly as a dictatorship eventhough its people are "brainwashed" and think it's the best form of rule. Like almost every Utopian society, Farenheit 451, Harrison Bergeron, and The Giver all take place in the future. All of these books have something in common - a utopian society.

http://www.nyu.edu/projects/ollman/docs/utopian_vision.php - Utopian Society Article

Mockingjay Predictions

I have now finished Catching Fire and it was a great book. I enjoyed the first book of the series but i still liked the book i just finished. I believe that this book might not be about another Hunger Games since the previous two have already been about the Hunger Games. I have no idea on what will happen in this book but i might as well make a prediction. I think that the poorer districts will unite with the other districts in order to make an eqaul Panem where everyone is together and there is very little poverty and everyone is happy with one another. I am very interested in reading this book and i want to see if my prediction is right. I also know that this is the last book in the series and i want to see how Suzanne Collins puts an end to her serie. I hope that this book is very interesting and has a good ending or i will be distappointed with the series. I also hope there is a lot of action just like in the other books or else i would be bored since the two other books have been action packed.

Catching Fire Conflict

I have still been reading Catching Fire and it is starting to get close to all the action which includes Katniss entering the Hunger Games again. The main conflict of this story is character vs. society. The character, who is represented by Katniss Everdeen deals with her problem of facing the whole society of Panem while she takes her tour after she had won the Hunger Games. She also faces nature as the setting of previous Hunger Games has been with lots of obstacles that Katniss encounters as she is in the Hunger Games. She overcomes these obstacles by using what Haymitch has taught her and also uses the help of others. I am sure there are more conflicts as the story moves along and from what i have heard Mockingjay is a conflict between society. I am interested to see how Katniss encounters and overcomes these conflicts as the novel progresses.

"Catching Fire" Katniss

Katniss as a character has changed through the series from being a poor peasant that lives in the poorest district to a living legend after she and Peeta had successfully won the 74th Hunger Games.  In the first novel, the beginning starts off with describing Katniss' life and her struggles to live through the tough times her family faces. All of that would change. With Katniss' sister being selected to participate in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers in her place. That event would for ever change the life of Katniss and her family and even the whole District 12.  After Katniss had one the Hunger Games with Peeta, she gained many things. She gained wealth, food, and popularity. All of that would help her family and even District 12 to move forward. Katniss' characteristics didn't really change. She did not become ignorant like those of the wealthier districts. She still returned to her roots back in District 12.  She will eventually change again as the novel progresses and we will find out if those change
s are posititve of negative.

Catching Fire Comparison

I will be comparing the book "Catching Fire" to the first book of the series "Hunger Games". In the book that I am currently reading, it is very similar to the first book in the series except for a couple of new events.  In the first book it starts pretty slow in the beginning but then as we go along in the novel the action starts to pick up. That is the same for "Catching Fire" since in the beginning Katniss and Peeta who won the hunger games in the last book go around the districts on their tour.  There are a little bit of action scenes while they go on their tour but it is still a pretty slow beginning to the book.  In the first book of the series the action starts to pick up as all of the hype for the hunger games picks up and we are introduced to the idea of the hunger games for the first time as readers. There is a section of the book that is devoted to just explaining the rules and setting up for the 74th annual hunger games since we the readers have never experienced something of that nature. In the second book, the action starts to pick up again as the Hunger Games begin just like in the first book.

I think that the first book of the series is better thatn "Catching Fire" since I think that the slow parts of both of the books are boring but I would have to say that I enjoy the explanation of these rules about the Hunger Games and building up on the Hunger Games that would happen later in the novel.  I highly recommend reading these books as I have enjoyed the first book and the second book even though I am not done with "Catching Fire".