At-Home #3: Descriptions

10/23/2016

Great descriptions really make a story come to life! Great descriptions use precise details, figurative language, and/or interesting vocabulary to really enhance a reader's experience with the text. Great descriptions help you to see an image or a movie in your mind.

This Week's Prompt:
Look through your independent reading for a description of a setting, a character, or an action that has precise detail, figurative language, and/or interesting vocabulary. Do the following 4 things:

Tell what part of the story you pulled the description from.
Quote the text accurately.
Explain what the description means.
Say why you like the description.

I look forward to reading your chosen descriptions and hearing your explanations of them!

55 Comments

Ms. Kimball

10/24/2016 04:08:26 pm

Dear Class,

In the book, There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, Louis Sachar describes the misunderstood main character, Bradley Chalkers, when he first meets the new kid in class, Jeff. Here is the description: "Bradley smiled a strange smile. He stretched his mouth so wide, it was hard to tell whether it was a smile or a frown. He stared at Jeff with bulging eyes as Jeff awkwardly sat down next to him. Jeff smiled back at him so he looked away."

From this description, you can see that people don't really understand Bradley, nor does Bradley understand them. His smile is so strange that people can't tell if he is happy or sad. Bradley also stares at people with bulging eyes. This may make his classmates feel awkward around him. He also doesn't know how to respond appropriately to his classmate's smile -instead of smiling back, he turns away. I like how the author used words like "strange," "bulging," and "awkwardly" to describe Bradley and how he makes people feel.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

caly

10/24/2016 06:26:20 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I would like to tell you about a book called The One And Only Ivan. This book is about circus animals who have spent their lives in a shopping mall! But when new life comes Ivan has to make some change. One of my most favorite things about this book is that when a new baby elephant, Ruby happens to find herself at a shopping mall and has no clue what is going on. And is scared and lonely Ivan comes to the rescue. When the mall is about to closedown from the lack of money Ivan and Ruby stay up through the moonlight working on a marvelous painting and with this painting came good things Ruby and Ivan both got transferred to a new habitat.

In the text it describes;" Ivan was happy to be free in a new leafy free habitat where vines cover the trees and big fruit dangling from the big papaya tree it was a marvelous sight indeed." I think people misunderstand animals and their nature I like to describe Ivan "enthusiastic", "easygoing" and "upbeat".

As for Ruby the text describes;” Ruby marveled at the sight of clean water, food, and friends”. I would describe Ruby as a "passionate" "curious" enthusiastic" young elephant.

Sincerely,
Caly

Ms. Kimball

10/26/2016 09:53:36 am

Dear Caly,

I like your description of Ivan's habitat, especially the author's choice to use the word "dangling" to describe the fruit on the trees. How does this description compare with the description of Ivan's habitat before? Did Ivan's feelings change once he saw this "marvelous sight?"

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Caly

11/2/2016 07:54:09 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

Thank you for commenting on my blog I want to clarify on a few things I wrote. Ivan’s habitat was a concrete floor with a tire swing, plastic kiddy pool, and glass walls on every side. Ivan’s new habitat is large, open, and there are plenty of trees to munch on. In the text it describes him being happy, free, and care free. So I think Ivan is pretty happy now.

Sincerely,
Caly

Nadya

10/25/2016 05:35:11 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I am reading a book called The Mystery of the Room That is Secret by Enid Blaiton. It is a really good book. I like the way the author describes Milton House in which the room is in. When she describes how its falling apart it really makes you imagine what the house looks like. I will also describe what the room looks like when one of the detectives first saw it. "It looked like the room was completely forgotten when the people moved. There was furniture everywhere. There were closets filled with books all around the walls. There was a couch the size of a bed in the middle.Also in the middle there was a table. The floor was covered with carpet. An armchair and two regular chairs pretty much finished the room. also there was an electric fireplace.Im not exactly sure what the description means but I think it mesns something interesting. I like this description because it is full of suspence.
Sincerely Nadya.

Ms. Kimball

10/26/2016 09:50:23 am

Dear Nadya,

The description of the the mystery room is very intriguing. It sounds like the people who lived there before moved out but left that one room with their stuff behind. You said you are unsure what the description means. Based on the details about the room, what can you infer about the room? What might the room be used for by the previous owners? Do you have a prediction about why the room was left with stuff in even though the rest of the house was empty?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Nadya

11/1/2016 03:59:58 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I have already finished that book so I know the answer which I will tell you at the end. As for the prediction I will try my best. The characters noticed that there were bars on the window. They thought that the room might have been a children's room because the bars would keep the children from falling out. (This happened a long time ago in England). As for the rest I don't really know. Now I will tell you what really happened. The room belonged to this band of robbers. They wanted to hide all the stuff they stole until they were ready to leave. Apparently that didn't happen.
Sincerely Nadya

Katie

10/25/2016 08:12:58 pm

Dear Class,
I’m pulling my description from the book “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate Dicamillo.
The description I picked out is “I stared at the preacher really hard. Sometimes he reminded me of a turtle hiding inside his shell, in there thinking about things and not ever sticking his head out into the world.” You can find this description near the front of the book on page 16. I think that description means that the “preacher” is not trying to express himself to anybody, while trying to protect himself, like a turtle. I like this description because you can take it from all different points of view and interpret it in different ways.
Yours Truly,
Katie

Ms. Kimball

10/26/2016 09:56:39 am

Dear Katie,

I like your description choice. It's interesting when author's compare people to animals. I think it helps paint a clearer picture of a character's personality traits. You said that the preacher doesn't like to express himself. A great adjective to describe someone like that is "reserved." Can you point out any examples from the text that show the preacher being reserved? Does he stay that way throughout the story?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Katie

11/6/2016 03:55:20 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
In this story, the preacher stays reserved for most of the story but at the end, he becomes more friendly and open. This is one of the reasons that the book is called "Because of Winn-Dixie," because Winn-Dixie helped him to be that way. In addition, this example of him being reserved is from before Winn-Dixie helped him. "He was working on a sermon and kind of muttering to himself."
Yours Truly,
Katie

Caroline

10/26/2016 03:41:09 pm

Dear Class,
I am taking my description from the book Voyage on the Great Titanic, The Diary of Margret Ann Brady.
The description I picked out is "There where steep, stark cliffs, grey and barren, with extraordinary green pastures and hills behind them. The was both rocky and lush." I found my description on page 85.
I think the description means that the land Margret is looking at is very different than what she has ever seen before. I like this description because it helps you picture all the land very well.

Sincerely
Caroline

Ms. Kimball

10/31/2016 09:21:49 pm

Dear Caroline,

You chose a very vivid description. When you say that "the land Margret is looking at is very different than what she has ever seen before," what do you mean? What is Margaret use to seeing? Where is Margaret seeing this landscape?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Caroline

11/3/2016 04:56:34 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
Thank you. What I mean by "The land Margret is looking at is very different" I mean she is used to looking at a dull city. Margret is looking at Ireland.

Sincerely,
Caroline

Owen 5

10/26/2016 04:30:54 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

I am reading a book called Inkheart. The description of the book is "He had decorated the box and painted Meggie's treasure chest in lovely curl lettering on the lid. The box was lined with shiny black taffeta, but you could hardly see any of the fabric because Meggie had a great many favorite books."

I think the author want's to show to readers how Meggie thought about the treasure chest. In another way of explaining is that Meggie loves Mo ( Meggie's dad) so much and Mo cares about Meggie so much. And Mo makes a beautiful chest for Meggie. In which Meggie loves it because she loves Mo so much it makes her love the treasure chest (and the treasure chest is pure beautiful). Within all of that I think the treasure chest is what ties them together and if there apart they will not be as lonely than usual with the treasure chest. That is why I love this explanation.

Sincerely,
Owen 5

Ms. Kimball

10/31/2016 09:25:42 pm

Dear Owen 5,

You chose an interesting description. Based on the special details, it soundly like this chest is very special and beautiful. A great word to describe the chest would be to say that it is "ornate."

You say that the "treasure chest is what ties [Meggie and her dad] together." Is Meggie's dad still close to her, or are they far apart now? Does the treasure chest play an important role in the story at all?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Ellie

10/26/2016 08:06:43 pm

Dear Class,

Hi! I am pulling this description from The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet at the beginning of the book. The description is, "Linny's village was green and warm, and its smell had a tang to it that was all sheep; three fourths wool and one fourth hay. The field also smelled slightly of sheep cheese." This description describes the place that Linny, the main character, lives. It describes her home, which has a field that smells of sheep. It mostly describes the smell of Linny's property, and it proves that she has sheep, and her family makes sheep cheese. And finally, I like this description because it is detailed, unique, and a pinch silly. That is my description of my book.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Ms. Kimball

10/31/2016 09:30:17 pm

Dear Ellie,

I agree that the description you chose clearly shows the importance of sheep to Linny's village. Is there anything special about sheep that made the author decided to emphasize them so much? Sometimes sheep symbolize a life of simplicity. Does Linny's home feel that way to you? How does her home compare to the other settings she encounters in the story?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Ellie

11/2/2016 07:18:24 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

Thanks for the question. In the book, sheep are very important as symbols of simplicity. There is a sentence in the book that says, "Linny's house was a simple little wooden house, just like any other in the village. And each had sheep." This proves that the sheep are symbols for the village. It also describes the setting - rows upon rows of alike houses!
That is my reply.

Sincerely,
Ellie

Kate

10/26/2016 09:11:42 pm

Dear Class,

In the book “The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” the author C.S. Lewis writes a fairly long paragraph that describes Lucy and her older sister Susan riding on Aslan the lions back. This is the description straight from the text: “That ride was perhaps the most wonderful thing that happened to them in Narnia. Have you ever had a gallop on a horse? Think of that; and then take away the heavy noise of the hooves and the jingle of the bits and imagine instead the almost noiseless padding of the great paws. Then imagine instead of the black or gray or chestnut back of the horse the the soft roughness of golden fur, and the mane flying back in the wind. And then imagine you are going about twice as fast as the fastest racehorse.”

I took this description from page 165 near the end of the book when Lucy and Susan are riding on Aslan toward the battle. This description means that C. S. Lewis is adding even more depth and examples to the concept of Aslan being a magical lion. Also, it means that the ride was similar to riding a horse but also very different at the same time. Lastly, I believe it means that the ride itself along with Aslan was magnificent and thrilling. I love this description because C. S. Lewis does a wonderful job comparing the ride to something a lot people would know about, riding a horse. In addition, I love the fantastic wording and detail C. S. Lewis uses to describe the scene.

Sincerely,
Kate

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 08:15:13 am

Dear Kate,

I agree that it was helpful for the author to compare a ride on the back of a lion to a ride on a horse. It's more familiar to people. I like how the author also helped you imagine how quiet yet fast the lion ride was. It definitely adds to the sense of magic.

Does the author use this technique in other places in the story (comparing magical things to things people are more familiar with)? Have you ever noticed other authors doing that in fantasy stories?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Kate

11/6/2016 07:59:29 pm

Dear, Ms. Kimball

I completely agree C. S. Lewis did a great job describing this scene! Also, I have noticed that some authors try to describe something in a more relatable way so that people can understand it better, though I have seen this used in both fiction and nonfiction books as well. Lastly, I have finished the book and returned it to the library but thinking about it and looking through some chapters I can not remember or find any other examples of this.

Sincerely,
Kate

Max

10/27/2016 05:20:28 pm

Dear Class

For my description I chose the book “Gregor and the curse of the warmbloods” by Suzanne Collins. I chose this book because the series has great description and action, the part that I chose is when Gregor went into the jungle to get the cure for a plague and Queen Luxa who was presumed dead because she got lost in a labyrinth and never showed up until now. The description is “Gregor did not recognise the newcomer. Her clothes were rags, her pale skin marred with bruises and cuts. A long, curved scar ran from her left temple to the tip of her chin. But she still wore that thin band of gold around her head. And those violet eyes… well, he would know them anywhere.”

In the description when it says “That thin band of gold around her head” it means that she is the queen because that thin band of gold is her crown. Also Gregor is in a place called the underland and everyone there has violet eyes. She also got the cuts, bruises and scars from the labyrinth she escaped from. I like this description because it is very detailed and it makes me feel like I am actually seeing that person.

Sincerely Max

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 08:18:34 am

Dear Max,

What a great description! It makes it sound like the Queen has been through a lot of suffering. I can definitely visualize what the Queen must have looked like. Nice job explaining the meaning.

Why would a queen have gone through such a tough time? Usually I imagine queens to be safe and pampered in their palaces. What was Queen Luxa doing in this labyrinth anyway?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Max

11/3/2016 08:32:40 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball

the queen had a tough time because she went on a quest with Gregor when she wasn't supposed to and he ended up being left there presumed dead.

Gregor later found here in his next quest.

Sincerely Max

Isaiah

10/27/2016 05:39:12 pm

Dear class,

in the book “The People of Sparks” the people of Ember that escape from underground find the village sparks. this is how Torren who is a villager of sparks describes the people of Ember when he first sees them in the book

"They did look as if they had crawled out of a hole. Most of them were pale, like sprouts you'd see when you lift up a board that's been lying on the ground, feeble things that had tried to grow in the dark."

What this means to me is that the people are weak and scrawny, which seems strange because the people of Ember never really describe themselves like that, and in the book The City of Ember the people only describe how they look, Not how strong they are.

Sincerely Isaiah

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 11:13:29 am

Dear Isaiah,

Wow, what a great description! I love how the author compared the people to sprouts stuck under a board. Why might the author want you to imagine the people who are so weak and scrawny? Did they live underground or something? What is their city like?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Isaiah

11/3/2016 05:32:06 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,

for your first question, yes the people of Ember did live under ground, and for the people of Ember in that generation, and the generation before that they lived under ground their whole lives. Know for your second question their city was like a 1940's city, originally it was more like a twenty first century city but over time supplies started to run out, and the people of Ember didn't know how to make more things because everything had been made for them, or brought to them at the beginning of the city of Ember,(I mean when it was made, not at the beginning of the book.) well they did know how to build somethings. I think that is the best I can do to answer your questions, Ms. Kimball.

Sincerely Isaiah

Wyatt

10/27/2016 07:57:41 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

I am reading a book called because of mr. terupt by Rob Buyea. Rob Buyea described when Jessica walked into her new school and what she was feeling and thinking. She was with her mom trying to find their teacher. Her teacher, Mr. Terupt, was also new so they could help each other out. Jessica says "The butterflies in my stomach fluttered as if I were on a Tilt-A-Whirl". She also said 'Her tongue felt so swollen she couldn't talk". When Jessica met her teacher they became friends right away. "Jessica's butterflies went away and her tongue shrank".

What this means to me is it is ok to be nervous because there is going to be a brighter side. What I like is the author wrote "So I guess we'll try to figure things out together. My smile grew." I love how the author wrote that instead of saying "I smiled". When he said "My smile grew", it painted a metal image of Jessica's smile getting bigger.

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 11:38:14 am

Dear Wyatt,

I like the descriptions you chose. The description about Jessica being nervous ("The butterflies in my stomach fluttered as if I were on a Tilt-A-Whirl") has a cool comparison. Why do you think the author compared being nervous to being on a Tilt-A-Whirl? Does the author use comparisons like that in other descriptions in the story?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Wyatt

11/2/2016 08:36:47 pm

Dear Ms.K,
Thank you for your feedback. I think what the author ment a Tilt-A-Whril was a name of a roller coaster. Being on a roller coaster can sometimes be nervous. You can have mixed feelings like being excited. There are no more comparisons yet in my story so far. But I hope to find some more comparisons in my book.

Emma

10/27/2016 08:09:35 pm

Dear Class,
I pulled this excerpt from the book, ‘Mr. Terupt Falls Again’, By Rob Buyea. This moment is when a girl named Lexie, who is in fifth grade, finds an old abandoned house. She hears voices coming from the house, so she goes to takes a peek inside the house. This is how the author describes how lexie feels, and what the house looks like. “ It was a pretty cool hangout spot, but it was kind of scary too. Dust and cobwebs, cracked window glass, a creaky floor, falling-down boards, and rusty nails -the place was old. Real old and probably not safe.”
This description shows that the house was not a place for a girl in fifth grade to be. The author told me this by putting the little details in there like, “ falling-down boards” or “ cracked window glass”. Also Lexie is scared because she has no clue where she is. It’s an old house and her mom doesn’t even know that she’s there. I like this description because the author makes me feel like I’m in Lexies shoes. He creates a picture that's easy to see, and follow in my mind. By writing action words like “falling-down”, which makes me want to cover my head, even though I’m reading the book. Descriptions like this are why I like this book so far.

Sincerely, Emma

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:25:14 pm

Dear Emma,

I really liked your response! Great job! You clearly explained why you liked the description of the old house. I agree, it's definitely not a good place for a 5th grade girl to be. Why was Lexie there? Was she scared at all? Based on her observation, "Real old and probably not safe," I'm guessing she knew she needed to be cautious, but something tells me she still went into the house. What happens at the house?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Emma

11/1/2016 05:27:50 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball
Thank you.
The reason that Lexie was at the house was because she heard voices coming from it, and was curious to see who those voices were coming from. Also,I can’t really tell you what happens at the house because if you keep reading it’s starts to get meaningful throughout the story. But I can answer your second question. Lexie does get scared because she doesn’t know who’s voices those are, and when she goes into the house two teenagers all of a sudden talk and it scares Lexie because she thought she was alone.
Sincerely,
Emma

Owen C

10/27/2016 08:34:22 pm

Dear class,

I am reading The Finest Hours. It is by Micheal J. Tougias. This book is about the most daring sea rescue. The Pendleton split in half of the coast of cape cod. The Fort Mercer had also split in two that day. Both ships are T2 tankers. This accident happened in 1952. The north east was experiencing the most violent nor-easter at the time. Bernie Webber and his crew set out to save the men on the Pendleton stern section. All were saved on the little life boat but one. "Tiny" Myers missed the boat and went boom into the hulk. "The lifeboat slammed into the taker, trapping Tiny Myers between them."

I think that the author was trying to tell you about how powerful the ocean is. Through out the book the author keeps reminding you about how powerful the sea is. An accident like that is a perfect way to show how powerful the sea is.Not even the beast coast can stand the power of the ocean. That image of Tiny Myers being smushed between a rescue boat and the tanker, would haunt Bernie forever. This is why I think that the author tells you how powerful the sea is.

Sincerely,

Owen C

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:28:58 pm

Dear Owen,

The description you chose is short, but as you explained, it does show the power of the sea. The fact that Tiny was helpless between the tanker and the lifeboat as they "slam" together is a scary image. This description show the effects of the sea. How does the author describe the sea itself? What did it look and feel like? Did the author make the ocean seem alive in any way?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Owen C

11/5/2016 05:02:49 pm

Dear ms. kimball,

Thanks for the comment. The description was short put accurate. you asked about the sea. The sea was monstrous. Like a kid with a tantrum. It felt like if you make one wrong move. The sea would swallow you whole. The ocean did feel alive. It almost felt like like. It was watching you and of you weren't careful it would reach out and get you.

Sincerely,

Owen C

Thomas B.

10/27/2016 09:09:41 pm

Dear class,

I hope this description doesn't give you nightmares. Anyways, this is from Ms. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

"There was no moon and no movement in the underbrush but our own, and yet somehow I knew just when to raise my flashlight and just where to aim it, and for an instant in that narrow cut of light I saw a face that seemed to have been transplanted directly from the nightmares of my childhood. It stared back with eyes that swam in dark liquid, furrowed trenches of carbon black flesh loose on its hunched frame, its mouth hinged open grotesquely so that a mass of long eel like tongues could wriggle out."

Hope you don't get nightmares! Sincerely, Thomas B.

Alex

10/28/2016 10:18:13 am

Dear Thomas,
I am also reading that book I think it is very good so far.
From,
Alex

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:31:24 pm

Dear Thomas,

You chose a very frightening description. There are some amazingly haunting details in there. You forgot to explain the meaning of the quote and why you like it. Please explain what's happening in your own words.

Also, why did you choose this particular description? What specifically do you like about it (other than the fact it may scare people!)?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Thomas B.

11/7/2016 07:18:49 am

Dear Ms Kimball,
The meaning of this quote is to symbolize something that happens later in the story. I don't know exactly what it is yet.

Second, I chose this quote because there were some nice details in there and I thought it was the best description I had read in the book so far.

Jacob

10/27/2016 09:36:34 pm

Dear Class,
I'm pulling my description from the book “No Talking”by Andrew Clements. I picked out the description “Plus, talking always did make Dave feel like he was in charge. It was sort of like being a police officer out in the middle of traffic. As long as he did the talking, the traffic went the way he wanted it to. This was especially useful if insults started flying around.” The description is on page 12. I think it means Dave is one of those people who forces his way into the “web” of attention by talking over people and constantly blabbing. This description shows and expresses that Dave is controlling.
Sincerely,
Jacob

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:34:13 pm

Dear Jacob,

Good choice of a description! I like how the author compared Dave's conversational skills to a traffic cop. I never thought about social skills that way before. Now that you hopefully know Dave more, is it true that he is "constantly blabbing?" What kind of personality does Dave have that makes him enjoy being in charge of conversations?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Jacob

11/3/2016 08:58:45 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

Thanks! Yes, it is true that he is constantly blabbing. It is kind of annoying at times and he definitely likes to be bossy. Sometimes he's like a volcano and just spills out random words. This is what makes him special or that is what Dave's “special talent” is. If people are talking about him, he’ll definitely get involved by screaming over people. In this book it's a war between girls and boys to see who can stay quietest the longest, and Dave might make his team lose!

Sincerely,
Jacob

Thomas H

10/30/2016 01:02:11 pm

Dear class,
I am reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. My description is taken out of chapter twenty, page 421, Hagrid's Tale. Here it is:
"Hermione screamed. "Merlin's beard, keep it down!" said Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over their heads. "Under that cloak, are yeh? Well, get in, get in!" "I'm sorry!" Hermione gasped, as the three of them squeezed pasted Hagrid into the house and pulled the cloak off themselves so he could see them. "I just--oh, Hagrid!" "It's nuthin', It's nuthin'!" said Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying close to the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror. Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood, and his left eye hat been reduced to a puffy slit amid a a mass of purple-and-black bruises. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly which made Harry suspect broken ribs." This description means that Hagrid has been gravely injured, despite him saying he didn't. I like this description because it really describes what Hagrid looked like.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Thomas H

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:40:23 pm

Dear Thomas,

That's quite a quote you have there. You didn't need to include all of that dialogue at the beginning. The description in your quote that I like the best is: "Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood, and his left eye [had] been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple-and-black bruises." One reason I like this description is because the words the author chose are pretty cool. "Congealed" is a very vivid and specific word. Try looking it up!

You said you liked the description because "it really describes what Hagrid looked like." Can you say more about that? How did it help you see Hagrid's appearance clearly? What are some details that contrast to what Hagrid normally looks like?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Thomas H

11/3/2016 05:02:43 pm

Dear Ms K,
Thanks for commenting! For starters, Hagrid usually HAS two regular eyes, not a puffy slit. I will admit, I was not surprised to see Hagrid injured, because he loves to raise dangerous animals, but boy, he was just ugly! The description shows what Hagrid really looked like because of those normal Hagrid details I just named.
I hope that answered your questions.
Sincerely,
Thomas H

Alex

10/30/2016 08:11:37 pm

Dear Class,
I found a cool description in the book The Other Boy by M.G.Hennessey. The main character is trying to draw but people start to pick on him. Here it is: " I bent over the drawing and tried to tune everything else out. Something hit the back of my head, and people in the rows behind me snickered. I touched the spot, and my hand came away gooey with a wad of gum. Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I bit the inside of my cheek hard to keep from crying. Slowly and deliberately I tore a clean sheet of paper, scraped the gum of with it, and balled it up. Then I tossed it over my shoulder like it was nothing." I think that is a cool description because it was a small moment but big in the book and the author really stretched it out. From this description I realized that the main character gets bullied.
From,
Alex

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:44:13 pm

Dear Alex,

I like how you pointed out that the description of the main character getting picked on in class was "stretched out." I agree. It's cool when authors stretch out the action of important parts. In the description, the kid says, "I bit the inside of my cheek hard to keep from crying." That part made me so sad. At any point in the story, does the kid ever release his emotions? Does he ever actually cry or lash out at these bullies? Also, how does the author describe the bullies? Do they seem realistic?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Alex

11/3/2016 04:31:56 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
Thank you for the compliment. Dylan and Nico are the main bullies but their are a lot of other little ones, and they do seem realistic. The author describes them as, well, jerks and bullies. And finally, no he doesn't ever release his emotions, but he almost does a lot.
From,
Alex

Anika

10/31/2016 09:06:42 pm

Dear Class,

I'm pulling a quote from the book " Out Of My Mind" my quote is," She and Dad hugged in the kitchen, both took a deep breath, and we actually made it out of the house on time." What this description means is that even though this family is going through a rough time and things are hard. The Mom and Dad are still working together to keep their family in balance. I like this description because I like to think that Melody's parents are still together no matter what happens to Melody. I also like this description because it reminds me of a persevering family who are making it through the toughest times.

Sincerely,
Anika

Ms. Kimball

11/1/2016 03:46:56 pm

Dear Anika,

I like how you explained the depth behind this very simple description. When you said, "it reminds me of a persevering family who are making it through the toughest times," you made me think more deeply about the quote. What are some of the "tough times" that this mom and dad have to live through? What kinds of challenges do they face? Do they ever not handle the challenges well?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Anika

11/2/2016 07:16:24 pm

Dear Mrs. Kimball,

I too like that quote. Now to answer your question what I meant by "tough times" is that right now their daughter Melody has a disability so it effects how Melody's body functions. This can be stressful for them so sometimes they may yell at each other or disagree with each other. I hope this answers your questions.

Sincerely,
Anika

Willie

11/1/2016 03:30:49 pm

Dear Class, I am reading the book: Harry Potter and the Sorceres's Stone. A descriptive part from my book is:" For a famous place, it was dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in." That description means to me that the bar looked like it was going out of business. I liked especially when the author described the bartender being a "toothless walnut.". I also liked this description because it is the most descriptive part so far.
Sincerely,
Willie

Ms. Kimball

11/3/2016 08:02:13 pm

Dear Willie,

I like the description of the bar you found in the story. You said that it looks like the bar is going out of business. What made you think that? Also, how is this bar related to the plot of the story? What happens in it?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Willie

11/6/2016 09:07:30 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball, The bar looked like it was going out of business because the author said it looked worn out and shabby. The bar is related to the story because Hagrid, a giant takes harry there while they are shopping for Harry's stuff for wizard school.
Sincerely,
Willie

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At-Home #3: Descriptions

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At-Home #3: Descriptions

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Reading Response BlogForMs. Kimball's Grade 5 At Pine Hill, 2016-2017​

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Reading Response Blog
For
Ms. Kimball's Grade 5 At Pine Hill, 2016-2017