﻿Reading Response Blog #17

Reading Response Blog #17

1/25/2015

Dear Class,

Authors write for many different reasons. Many authors write humorous or exciting stories and articles to entertain readers. Other authors write news stories, articles, and other non-fiction to inform and educate readers. Sometimes authors write to share their experiences. Sometimes authors want to teach readers a lesson or get a message across. Other times authors want to persuade readers to think a certain way or perform an action. Most times authors try to do a combination of these things whenever they write.

This Week's Prompt:

Choose a text that you have read recently and state the title, author, and the genre of the text. It could be anything --a story, a news article, an instruction manual, an advertisement, an essay, an opinion piece, or other text.

Why do you think the author wrote the text? There may be more than one reason.
Explain why you think this and support your thinking with specific examples from the text. Make sure your examples clearly show us instances of the author trying to do what you think he or she is trying to do!

I look forward to hearing what you think about why authors write!

Picture Citation: Snoopy writing by Charles Schultz. http://www.jeffcalloway.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-writer2.jpeg

52 Comments

Alec

1/26/2015 07:38:30 am

Dear Class,
The text l will be showing you is from Mr. Terupt Falls Again by Rob Buyea. The genre is fiction. I think Rob Buyea wrote this book because he used did wrestling like Mr. Terupt. I think he wanted to write a story about school because he said in his acknowledgments that he watns to thank all the teachers that has helped him along his life. He wrote the book to make teachers happy. I think Rob Buyea put all of his heart into giving the teachers something to be happy about. He put his heart in the book too. Teachers will love his novels. They will realize how much Rob Put his heart in his writing. Thats what I think. Here's an example, "Many people have helped along the way. l give my sincere thanks to all of you, no matter small a part you might think you've played." Thats what Rob Buyea said. I can feel the emotion he is putting in his words. Its perfect. Thats what I think.

From, Alec

Ms. Kimball

1/26/2015 08:55:07 am

Dear Alec,

You wrote that Rob Buyea, the author of Mr. Terupt Falls Again, puts his heart into his writing and also wrote the story to make teachers happy. Is there any evidence in the actual story to show this? The acknowledgement section is a good place to learn about the author's purpose, but how does the author actually do what you claim he's trying to do in the story itself? He probably is trying to do more than just make teachers happy. Push your thinking deeper.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Alec

1/29/2015 12:50:31 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,
The evidence I thought that mad Ms. Newberry. I think Rob Buyea wanted his book to have a lot of emotion and love. In the first book, Because of Mr. Terupt when he is a coma, everybody wanted him back. And in the end, everybody just loved him. In the second book, Mr. Terupt falls again, he falls in love with Ms. Newberry. Both of Rob Buyea's books have love somewhere in the book. I think Rob Buyea wants to expresss his feelings and show how grateful he is to be himself. I think he wants to make the world into a place of love and peace.

From, Alec

Sam

1/26/2015 08:55:17 am

Dear Alec,
I really like how you think some aurthors write to get feelings out, from there own life. A way to relax.

Sam

1/29/2015 12:27:43 pm

Dear Ms. kimball,
The book I chose to say why I think the author wrote is, the Harry Potter series. Just before you can even write a book theres always something big that ergs you to write, an idea before the big picture. The reason I think J.K. Rowling wrote the harry potter series is because she was actually basing some of her real life experiences, and putting them in her fiction writing. What I mean by that is she could have based her seventh grade math teacher, off of professor Snape because they both shared the same traits of being mean. Or a person like Neville longbottom off of a clumsy kid in her fifth grade class, who couldn't seem to get anything right but meant well.
Also she could have based big moments in her life off of exiting scenes in the book. This is why I think J.K. Rowling wrote the books.

Sincerely,
Sam

Olivia D.

1/30/2015 12:43:25 am

Dear Sam,

I defiantly agree with you!
What mean things do you think Snape did that the author could have been basing off her life?

Sincerely,
Olivia D.

Ms. Kimball

2/2/2015 03:07:11 am

Dear Sam,

Great point! I agree that authors love taking experiences and people from their own lives to use in works of fiction.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Danny

1/26/2015 10:33:44 am

Danny Blog # 17 1/26/15

Dear Class,
The article I will talk about is"Winter Storm Juno: Northeast Snowstorm Ramping Up; Blizzard Conditions Forecast in 7 States", By Linda Lam and Chris Dolce and Nick Wiltg. This is an informative article that I have read online.
What I think the article is trying to say is you should be ready for the blizzard Juno that will be coming tonight through Tuesday into part of Wednesday. They are also saying stay indoors at all times because of massive snow and gusts of wind, as well as power outages. They say there is going to be 1 to 2 feet of snow. In eastern Massachusetts there will be a little bit more snow because the snow will be accompanied by blizzard or near blizzard conditions.
The authors alerted that 3,500 flights have been canceled. I'm telling you cancel that flight to France because most planes will be canceled by Monday evening anyway.

Ms. Kimball

1/26/2015 02:32:24 pm

Dear Danny,

I'm glad you read about how to be prepared for the blizzard! Why do you think the authors wanted to get all of those warnings and suggestions out there to readers like you?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Danny

1/29/2015 11:24:01 am

Dear Ms.Kimball
Why I think so is so every person who reads it is aware of blizzard juno

Talia

1/27/2015 03:35:53 am

Dear Danny,
I do not understand your last sentence. What flight to France? I like how much detail you used.
From,
Talia

Alec

1/30/2015 12:41:09 am

Dear Danny,
Why do you think the author wrote this text?
From, Alec

Mikey

2/1/2015 09:54:35 am

Dear Danny,
I liked that you picked a book online instead of a regular book. It sounds like a cool topic to read about. I loved learning about why we got all that snow and how much we would get! Why do you think the author wanted to study that topic? I liked how you used lots of details from the story!
Sincerely,
Mikey

Layla

1/27/2015 01:33:54 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,
The text I’m choosing to talk about is from the fantasy book, Savvy, by Ingrid Law. The text says, “I watched the two women, animated from the lines of their own names like comic strips in the Sunday funnies come to life, and I felt my head go filmy and fuzzy again. I took a step back, weak-kneed and shaken, trying to remind myself that this was not my savvy.” Also, the main character, Mibs, who is narrating the book, says that her mind is just playing tricks on her. I think the author wrote this because Mibs truly knows that her savvy is reading people’s minds who have tattoos, not waking people up. I think Mibs truly knows this because she has to “remind” herself that it’s not her savvy, and getting all weak-kneed proves that Mibs is scared that reading minds who have tattoos on their bodies, is her true savvy. In addition, I think Ingrid Law wrote it because she wants the readers to know what I just said.
Sincerely,
Layla

Ms. Kimball

1/27/2015 04:01:15 am

Dear Layla,

Savvy sounds like a fun, fantasy book. Why do you think the author wrote the story in the first place? Do you think she wanted to entertain readers with an exciting story about magic? If so, how did she accomplish that goal?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Olivia D.

1/29/2015 11:17:40 am

Dear Layla,

Great response! I really enjoyed reading it.
What is a savvy?

Sincerely,
Olivia D.

Layla

1/30/2015 12:47:09 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I think that the author wrote the whole book in the first place for the reasons that you said.
From,
Layla

Amy

2/1/2015 05:42:39 am

Dear Layla,
Great response Layla! Why did you decide to choose this text? What type of genre is the book?
Sincerely,
Amy

Talia

1/27/2015 03:30:32 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
The title of a book I recently read was Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This fantasy book was written by Grace Lin. The author wrote the book because when she was younger, she read Chinese folktales that she changed a bit, and put into the main character, Minli’s journey. Those must have been the scattered stories. The author talks about this at the end of the story, in a section called “Behind the Story.” Also, on the author’s trips to China, she saw some things that she changed a bit and put it into the story. For example, she saw a mountain that became a mountain in the book. Also, on people’s doors, they would have pictures of a young boy and girl, for decoration. Those were the boy and girl that tricked the Green Tiger into jumping into the well.
From,
Talia/Bob

Ms. Kimball

1/27/2015 05:15:38 am

Dear Talia,

Great job thinking about why Grace Lin wrote the story. It sounds like she had a passion for Chinese folk tales and wanted to bring them all together into one story. That's interesting about how she wrote about a mountain in her story that she saw in real life, only added a fantasy element to it. I bet a lot of authors use their own experiences and travels in their stories.

Do you think the Grace Lin also wanted to share her love of Chinese folk tales with readers in a fun way?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Olivia D.

1/30/2015 12:45:46 am

Talia,

Great job on your blog!
What do you think made the author want to read those folktales? Was she inspired by something?

Sincerely,
Olivia D.

Talia

1/30/2015 12:46:40 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I do think that Grace Lin also wanted to share her love of Chinese folk tales with readers in a fun way. For example, she made the story about the Green Tiger go with the Chinese folktale about the bad man. She made the Green Tiger story make the bad man folktale more interesting.
From,
Talia

Rheona

1/28/2015 04:30:12 am

Dear class,
The text I am writing about is the book Planet Animal by Steve Parker. I think that Steve Parker wrote this book because he had an interest in many animals and their habitats and wanted to share them all with other animal loving people like himself. My evidence for this is the book has over 560 different animals and 8 habitats so all animals lovers can enjoy it. Another reason I think Steve Parker wrote this book is because not many people know how animals live and stay alive. I think he wanted to show what or how they do what they do, and also what they are. For example in the book it tells you about the aye-aye. Steve Parker says, “ It’s a type of Lemur that lives in a few patches of dense rain forest on the island of Madagascar. It uses its bat-like ears to listen for wood-dwelling insects, its strong fang-like teeth to tear off the bark, and its very long middle finger to poke out the grubs to eat, as it creeps through the trees at night.” Without this book most people would never know that there was such a bird as an Aye-aye. This is why I think Steve Parker wrote the book Planet Animal.

Sincerly,
RHEONA

Layla

1/30/2015 12:40:49 am

Dear Rheona,
That book sounds really cool!! Do you like it?
From,
Layla

Julia

1/30/2015 12:43:08 am

Dear Rheona,

Are you an animal lover like Parker? Could you feel Parkers love for animals through the text? Great response!

Julia

Ms. Kimball

2/2/2015 03:09:07 am

Dear Rheona,

Excellent response! I agree with you completely. Authors of nonfiction want to share their knowledge and love of the topic with readers. The Aye-aye sounds like an amazing creature!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Julia

1/28/2015 10:25:17 am

Dear Class,

I have recently read Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle. The book is about a boy who has a dream of being a Broadway actor. He lives in a small town and doesn’t get any opportunities, until he runs away to New York City to audition for the Broadway Musical E.T. The author wrote this realistic fiction book from his own Broadway experiences from his childhood. I think this would have been a fun book to write for Federle, because the main character Nate is very similar to him. He wrote Better Nate Than Ever to share his experiences and adventures with anybody else who happened to read his book.

Sincerely,
Julia

Nathan

1/29/2015 08:57:47 am

Dear Julia,
Better Nate Than Ever sounds like a really good book. Do you think you have any comparison to Nates traits?

Julia

1/30/2015 12:34:17 am

Dear Nathan,

I also enjoy acting which is one similarity I have with Nate. I think that is the only one. Thanks for your response!

Julia

Sage P

1/29/2015 11:06:49 am

Dear Julia,
This does sound like this book would be exciting to write. Why do you think the author wrote this book? Do you think the author ever knew of a person who auditioned to become a broad way actor? Great response, Julia.
From,
Sage P.

Forrest

2/1/2015 02:43:40 am

Dear Julia,
This book sounds like a book that could influence people to do the things that they love and have wanted to do. I agree that this author probably had a lot of fun writing this book because it’s so personal Great response! It seems like a book I’d really enjoy reading.

From,
Forrest

Ms. Kimball

2/2/2015 03:10:40 am

Dear Julia,

I wonder how much experience the author had with Broadway. Did you become intrigued by life on Broadway because of the story?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Nathan

1/28/2015 10:38:57 am

Dear class,
I am read Dumpling Days by Grace Lin. I think Grace Lin wrote this book after a part in her childhood. I think this because at the back of the book, there is a part called:
A Note From the Authors Parents. Around the 2nd paragraph, Graces parents say: “But reading the return through our daughters eyes brought back our surprise as well as showing us more”. So by seeing this, I noticed that they said the return, meaning the return to Taiwan. I think that Pacy represents Grace in 5th Grade. Pacy visits Taiwan and doesn't like it at first but starts to appreciate it.
That is a reason I think Grace wrote the book Dumpling Days.
Yours truly,
Nathan ;)

Olivia D.

1/29/2015 11:15:12 am

Dear Nathan,

You did a great job with your response! You used specific details and evidence from the text to support your thinking.

Sincerely,
Olivia D.

Sage P

1/30/2015 12:45:12 am

Dear Nathan,
You wrote a great response! I really liked how you used evidence from the text. I also saw that you looked back in your book, and took your time to find the right evidence. Your response showed that you put a lot of time into it.
From,
Sage P.

Rheona

1/30/2015 12:46:51 am

Hi Nathan,
Do you think that Grace used the same names from her life in her book?
From,
RHEONA

Sage W.

1/30/2015 12:47:05 am

Dear Nathan,

Great job on your response! I really liked how you used evidence to show that what your saying is true. Also Is do you think that the characters in the book represent people Grace Lin knows?

Ms. Kimball

2/2/2015 03:12:39 am

Dear Nathan,

You're right. So many authors take their own experiences, twist them a bit, and then base their stories on them. That's what makes writing so much fun!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Marc

1/29/2015 08:29:17 am

Class,
I am reading the Scorch Trials written by James Dashner. The genre is fiction. I think that he wrote the text because he wanted to continue the series of The Maze Runner. Also, I'm pretty sure he wanted it to be a series all along. I think this because in the first book, it has the next books to the series to it. Another really important reason is the cliff hangers. At the end of the Maze Runner, Thomas was in a helicopter and being told everything everything going to be alright (I didn't want to spoil too much of the book). So, this left me with questions: Where is he going? Who are those people? Why is Thomas excepting to go in a helicopter with strangers? Therefore, the author has answered those questions in the second book, and I bet he is going to have more cliff hangers for the other books in the series. James Dashner really wants to pull in the readers by making every second action. For example, I think there are only a couple of senes wherethere is not action, or where you aren't learning about his past. Therefore, James Dashner is mostly making everybody excited and anxious to read the other books in the series.

Sincerely,
Marc

Sage P

1/29/2015 11:02:28 am

Dear class,

I am choosing the book Wonder by R.J Palacio, the genre is fiction. This is such a good book and I really loved reading it. I think R.J Palacio wrote this book because, I think the author probably works with kids that live what August has. I think she wrote this book in honor of all of those kids who weren’t born the same way every one else is. I think she wrote the book about those kids, to show them that this kid in the story is going threw the same thing they're going thru, and she is kind of showing these kids all around the world, a path to help them be guided through life. A lot of parts of the book August faces challenges, and the author guides him through these challenges, that could happen to anyone. That’s why I think the author wrote the story Wonder.
From,
Sage P.

Olivia D.

1/29/2015 11:12:30 am

Dear class,

I chose a part from the book titled "Shooting Kabul" By N.H Senzai. The genre of the book is realistic fiction. The part I chose is:
"Fadi inched around the back as strong hands reached down to grab his shirt. "I've got you!" cried Habib.
"Ouch!" cried Mariam, stumbling as she clung to Fadi's hand.
"Hold onto Mariam!" ordered Habib as the truck revved it's engine.
"I have her." shouted Fadi, glancing back at his father.
Habib started pulling Fadi up. "Keep a tight grip," he said. "I'm going to lift you both up."
"Gulmina!" cried Mariam as Fadi jerked his face toward her.
He saw a blur of bright pink fall to the ground.
"We can't leave her," said Mariam, twisting sharply.
"No!" cried Fadi, reaching out with his other hand to get a better grip, but he missed. Instinctively he clung to Mariam's hand, but her sweaty little fingers slipped through his just as the truck rolled forward and picked up speed.

I think the author wrote this part to show how desperate Fadi and his family were to escape their country. It shows how the're so scared that they would leave behind Fadi's little sister or Habib's daughter in order to escape. I think this because they would have jumped out of the car and gotten back Mariam, but they were so desperat eto escape they could'nt come up with the courage to do it.

Sincerely,
Olivia D.

Mikey

1/29/2015 12:49:28 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I want to write about the Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan. The genre is Fantasy. I think the author wrote this book because he enjoyed learning and writing about Egyptian gods and languages. He uses lots of egyptian gods and heliographs in his books, and goes into great detail about main gods and temples. For example, he put a separate glossary in the back of the book just with the Egyptian gods. In the book, they have egyptian weapons, food, and monsters. There is lots of action, suspense, humor, and mystery, and I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
Sincerely,
Mikey

Layla

1/30/2015 12:35:11 am

Dear Mikey,
How would you analyze a piece of text from that book?
From,
Layla

Sage P

1/30/2015 12:38:51 am

Dear Mikey,
I think the author would really enjoy writing this book, with learning about writing about Egyptian gods and languages. Do you think the author would write this book for any other reasons, that the author wrote the book? I am excited to hear your answer!
From,
Sage

Arim link

1/31/2015 06:28:36 am

Dear Mikey

quick question, where is the text that you are suppose to write? Other than that, good job.

Yubin

2/1/2015 11:24:34 am

Dear Mikey,

Excellent response! Your response reminded me of my trip to Egypt in the year 2010. During my trip, I visited the mummy museum. The Egyptians made mummies because they believed in life after death. They believed that they had to preserve their dead bodies so they could use them in the afterlife.

Sincerely,
Yubin

Forrest

1/29/2015 02:00:20 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

I read an article called Fancy Feathers written by Rene Ebersole in National Geographic Explorer magazine. The article is about birds that live on an island called New Guinea. They’re all very colorful and safe on this island because there aren’t many predators. I think the author wrote this article because this topic is so interesting, and she must be an expert in researching unusual birds. For example, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is very colorful and has poison on it’s feathers. They believe that the poison on its feathers comes from the beatles that it eats. Also the male Bowerbird decorates his nest with nuts, seeds, leaves, grass, and bright berries. He does this to attract a female. My favorite one was called the Cassowary. It grows to be 6 feet tall, has a blue head and a kind of horn growing out of it’s forehead. It is really fast and can outrun a bus. I think it would be really cool to see it! I learned a lot about birds I’d never heard of. They are rare and very interesting birds. I like learning about things I’d never heard of before and I like to read about nature.

Your student,
Forrest

Kaela

1/30/2015 12:45:05 am

Dear Ms.Kimball
In Wonder they probably wrote it to inform people that people with disabilities have as much right to be treated normally as you. And also to tell people that even with disabilities they can see all the mean things you are doing to them. Also it follows along with the lesson that Dr.King taught us. That equality is deserved and definitely needed. It is cool to see how much fiction books can matter. Even though it's fiction it teaches us to accept even the hardest and most seen disabilities. I really enjoyed this really great book.

sincerely
s

Yubin

1/30/2015 01:51:01 pm

Dear Miss Kimball,

I read a short story called, “The Race for Space: Apollo 11” by Artie Knapp. The genre is Non-Fiction. I think the author wrote this book for the students to learn about the history of space race for the moon between the United States and Former Soviet Union. My evidence is that the story shows the competition of the United States and the Soviet Union to become the first country to go to the moon during the President John F. Kennedy’s term. Another reason I think the author wrote this story is to persuade readers to think about self-sacrificing for their countries. The author says, “And we must continue to believe as President Kennedy did, that for our country to reach its greatest potential, we must not ask what America can do for us, but what we can do for her.”

Sincerely,
Yubin

Arim link

1/31/2015 06:25:20 am

Dear class

The text I'm going to read is in the book wolves, it's Non-fiction and is by Sandra Markle. I think the author wrote the book because she wants kids to learn everywhere, and what can you bring everywhere, a book. This is the text that supports my thought, "She is a a former elementary science teacher who travels frequently to school systems throughout the United States."

Amy

2/1/2015 05:37:42 am

Dear Class,
I’m reading a book called the red pyramid. One of my favorite paragraph is “How’d the egyptians move like that?” Sadie said. “All side ways with their arms and legs out. It seems really silly.” Carter gave Sadie a god, you’re stupid looks. “they didn’t walk like that in real life, Sadie.” I like this paragraph because it was a very intense part but, the author (Rick Riordan) made it funny. I think Rick Riordan wrote this to show how much Carter knows about Egypt, and how much Sadie has to learn. I think this because so far in the story Sadie has quite a few questions and Carter answers them. If he does not answer the question then he probably doesn’t know the answer and he could have had the same question. This is why I think Rick Riordan wrote that text.
Sincerely,
Amy

Sofia

2/4/2015 08:57:09 am

Class,
The book I am choosing is called "let it snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myrhcle. I think the authors wrote this book to give people hope that yes, sometimes the most coincidental things happen. You won't believe your eyes when you see them, but yes, they can happen. I think the authors wanted to give their readers hope, even while a terrible storm is going on, literally or otherwise.
Sofia

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Student Work
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Ms. Kimball's Grade 5 At Underwood, 2014-2015

Relive the greatness of this unforgettable group of students, my fabulous fifth grade class from Underwood Elementary School in Newton.