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.