Before I Die

1) I think Tessa has an awkward relationship with her dad, it was obviously better before she got sick. Even though she knows she's sick, she doesn't like the way he treats her. She feels like a baby when she's around her dad. I think Cal does feel neglected by their father. He's younger than Tessa but he feels as if she gets all of the attention in the family. He knows about her illness but I don't think he understands it. I would say that now Tessa has an awkward relationship with her mother too. Her parents are divorced, she'd like for all of her family to be together for the simple fact that she's about to die.

2) I think the true qualities of a friend is someone that will be there for you through whatever is going on, someone who won't judge you, someone who you can go out and have fun with, someone who is interested in the same things you are. I think Tessa and Zoey's friendship is wild, but I don't know how it was before she got sick. She offers her drugs. Tessa's father calls Zoey to get her out of bed because Zoey is really the only person Tessa will listen to. Tessa sees Zoey as someone she can have a lot of time with while she's dying.

3) Tessa doesn't want to return to school because of her appearance, she doesn't want people just staring at her because the word will probably get around that she's sick and people will start to treat her differently, just like her family did. I don't know how difficult it is for teenagers to deal with classmates with terminal illnesses, I think they should all just put themselves in Tessa's shoes. Zoey might tell other students to act normal around her.

4) Tessa is sad that she's going to die and she can't do anything about it. She's dealing with this by going out and doing things you're not supposed to do but with a nonchalant attitude because she knows she's going to die anyway.
Zoey doesn't really care about anythig. She does whatever she wants. I honestly don't know why she's acting the way she is towards Tessa when she knows she's about to die. I guess that's how she's dealing with it.
Cal is too young to understand all of what's going on. He's trying to be nice towards Tessa because he knows she's going to die but no one knows when.
The father is trying to do everything he can for Tessa. You can tell that he's depressed by some of the things he does.
The mother is trying to be around more, I really don't know how she's feels about Tessa dying but I'm sure any mother who found out their child had a terminal illness would be sad.

To Katie Morrison: I'm reading this book too. I think it's a very good book.

Independent Reading Unit

The book that I would like to read is called "Before I Die." I would like to read this book because it seems like it's interesting and I like those kind of books. I'm expecting to read about this boy who is about to die and is doing all kinds of crazy things before he dies. My second choice whould be "Lockdown." If it's anything like the shows I would like it. I think those Tv shows called Lockdown are interesting. They get my attention.

 

Very good post. I wish this is how the book would have went, then I would've liked it. to Chardonnay

If Only...

If Tom was found innocent, Mayella and her father would've went to jail because they lied. Tom would be more respected in the community because he was telling the truth. The whole United States would have heard about this case because it was so significant. Tom and his family would've gotten a lot of money and moved somewhere out of Maycomb county.

If Tom was shot in the courtroom, he would've died then and not in jail. I think that would've been better for him because being shot 17 times is a bit excessive. The person who shot him would've went to jail and in the end he would've been found innocent. They would've had his funeral and that would've been the end of it.

If Tom would've stayed in jail until Atticus filed an appeal, I think that would've worked out in his favor. He was being impacient, I mean what innocent man would want to be in jail anyway but I think he should've waited a little bit. I think if Atticus got to the chance to file an appeal it all would've worked out for him.

Question 1: (to Bob) Has Mayella ever brought any guys home?
Question 2: (to Mayella) How often does your ather drink?
Question 3: (to Mayella) When your father drinks, is it to the point where he passes out or blacks out?
Question 4: (to Tom) Has Mayella ever flirted with you?
Question 5: (to Mayella) When did you start to realize that things were going bad with you and Tom?
Question 6: (to Mayella) Do you have a boyfriend?
Question 7: (to Bob) Have you ever gotten mad at Mayella while you were drunk?
Question 8: (to Mayella) Has Tom ever showed any sign of liking you or having any interest in you?
Question 9: (to Mayella) How severe does it get when your father beat you?
Question 10: (to Bob) If you saw Tom raping Mayella, why did you not catch him?

I think these questions are very important because they kind of clear things up so that everyone can get to the bottom of this and find out the truth.

 to Chardonnay: I think this was a really good post. You put a lot of thought into it. Good job!

Bravery and Courage

I think bravery is having the guts to do something that other people can't or won't do. And courage is

The ability to do something that frightens one.

Strength in the face of pain or grief. The most courage person in the book to me is Scout. She's only 6. Her mom died when she was 2 so she doesn't remember much of her. She doesn't have a mother figure in her life. She lives with her father and her brother. That's why she doesn't act like a girl. I admire my aunt because she almost died because of a bad heart and now she acts as if none of that stuff happened because she's gotten a new heart and a new start.

1930's music

Music was very different in the 1930's than it is now. They had more pop music than anything else. Jazz became popular in the 1930's too. Popular singers and/or dancers of the 1930s include the Andrews Sisters, Fred Astaire, Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Roy Rogers, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, and Ethel Waters. Big band jazz became popular in the 1930s. Big bands consisted of 15 to 20 players who were heard throughout the country at dances, on the radio, and in movies. A style of couples’ dance called "swing dancing" went with big band jazz. One such dance, called the "jitterbug," features partners throwing each other over the head and through the legs.
 
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/historical/1930s.html

Fashion in the Elizabethan Era:

Elizabethan Clothing for Women

Elizabethan Clothing for Men

Underclothes! Smock or shift, also called a chemise made of linen     Stockings or hose Corset or bodice Farthingale - a hooped skirt A Roll or Rowle Stomacher Petticoat Kirtle Forepart Partlet Over Clothes! Gown Separate sleeves Ruff Cloak shoes Hat

Underclothes! Shirt Stockings or hose Codpiece Corset Over Clothes! Doublet Separate sleeves Breeches Belt Ruff Cloak Shoes Hat Elizabethan clothes provided information about the status of the person wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person, it also reflected their social standing. Only Royalty were permitted to wear clothes trimmed with ermine.  http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-clothing.htm comment to Chardonnay's post: we did the same one :) lol but nice picture and good information.