Final Blogging Assessment

  I think the quality of my writing has improved greatly over the course of the trimester. One thing that I think has improved is my elevated diction. I used to throw in common words that are overused a lot. After I write my blog posts, I go back and look for common words. I try to think of a more unique word that isn't used as much. This makes my posts more interesting for both me and the people reading it. For example, one word that I find to be overused is scared. "I can't begin to imagine how terrified Ellen is during this time." In that last quote, I decided to change the word scared to terrifed. This word isn't used as often and makes it sounds more dramatic.

 While I was working on improving the diction, there was one thing that I was still struggling with: voice. It's one thing to summarize what you have been reading, and how you feel about it, but it's a whole new thing to add voice to your writing. In order to add voice to your writing, you have to be very familiar with the text. Then you must think of what would make it interesting to read. One way I tried to add voice to my posts was to make them relatable. "This is mainly because we have a lot to relate to- we are both Jewish teenage girls." In that quote, I am stating how I relate to the main character, Ellen Rosen. In this next quote, I don't relate the quote to myself, but to the people reading my blog, because nobody wants to read something that doesn't relate to them at all. "After all, who wants to read a boring book where you know what's going to happen right away? If you like books that keep you on the edge of your chair, I recommend this one." I think adding voice to writing can be challenging, but can take the piece to a whole new level.

Letter to the Author

Dear Lois Lowry,
I would like to take a minute to thank you. Thank you for writing Number the Stars. This book has been an amazing read. One of the reasons I picked up this book was because I heard it was fantastic. Once I started reading, I couldn't agree more. There were many reasons I especially loved this book. First, I had a personal connection to this book. I am 15 years old, and Jewish, just like Ellen Rosen. Another reason I loved this book was because it was action packed, and it was a cliffhanger. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Last, I really liked this book because it was powerful. I think the lesson of the book- never take life for granted, is very important. There are so many things we Americans do each day that we take for granted, and we don't realize not everyone has the ability to do such things. I look forward to reading many other books by you.
Yours truly, Samantha Winkler

Soundtrack

  Right now I'm on page 107 of Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. I am almost towards the end of the book. I am starting to notice a theme- be brave, even in the toughest times. This is because Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen have to do exactly that- be brave. Ellen Rosen is Jewish, and must go in hiding with Annemarie's family, in hopes of not being found by the Nazis. She must go far away from her hometown, and without her parents or siblings. She has no idea what could or might happen in the future, and there's no way to prepare for that. Every night she has to go to sleep terrified and worried. Although she isn't near hear family, she manages to always have a smile on her face while remaining brave. This is why I think the song Brave, by Sara Bareilles is a good representation of this book and its theme.