30 September 2009

What was your favorite story we read

This is the third blog posting for the short story unit and is due before class starts on Friday, Oct. 2.

Now that we've read all the stories in the unit, we'd like to know which was your favorite and why. Select one of the stories we've read and explain what made it the favorite. Why did you like it? Make sure you point to specific examples from the story to support your reasons.

For your reference, here are the stories we've read: "The Moustache," "Through the Tunnel," "Initiation," "Marigolds," and "Rules of the Game."

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was the Moustache. I really liked this story because it is about a teenage boy named Michael. He grew a moustache. What I liked mostly about this story was when he had to make a decision whether or not to tell his sick grandmother that it was her grandson Michael and not her husband Michael. This was a tough decision for Michael and he made the right choice by not telling his grandmother it was him, instead he just shaved off his moustache. I relate to this story because I have had to make big decisions in life, just like Michael. I just found it really interesting that Michaels grandmother thought that Michael was her dead husband.

Crissy Smith
English 10

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was through the tunnel because it was easy for me to follow and it was a nice story overall. I can kind of relate to the story to because when I was a lot younger like eight or nine I was in that stage of getting away from my parents and starting to go on my own and do things alone without my mom or dad around. Those are the only reasons I liked the story except for the fact that it was a page turner because I kept wanting to know what happened next.

john

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was Initiation because i could relate this to me because when i was about 8 i wanted to get in this all girls club and had to do all of these stupid things, and at the end im like i dont need to go into this stupid club and decided to make my own club which was acually really smart because i wanted everyone that i knew to be invited. I also though i was like her because i was desperate to get into the club just like me. The other short stories were hard to follow like going back in time, trying to do risky desicions. So i could this was the only story that i thought was really interesting and i could understand.
Elyssa

Anonymous said...

Of all the short stories we have read in English, my favorite would have to be “Rules of the Game” because I can relate to it the most. The main character, Waverly, begins to learn to play the sophisticated and complicated game of chess. Soon, Waverly becomes extraordinary at the game and her talents take her to town matches and soon state and national tournaments where she takes home the trophies after beating men five times her own age. Waverly’s mother who at first did not support her ambitions, realizes that her daughter’s talent should not be wasted at any cost. Local shops begin to ask to sponsor the young girl which meant more money for the family. However, Waverly’s mother soon becomes caught up in the competition and money aspect of the game of chess and Waverly starts to dislike all the attention she is receiving from those around her. Waverly’s mother shows off her daughter, which most would think is an honor, but Waverly starts to feel the only reason her mother is showing her off is because she is a chess champion… not because she is her daughter. When I began pitching, my mom did not think I should continue with it but when I became good at it, she was excited. However, now both my parents really pressure me to do well at sports and school as well. I generally try to ignore them and they understand. However, unlike Waverly, I confront my parents about the things that bother me and they get it but Waverly shows she is immature because she runs away from her mother, instead of confronting her about the issue she faces.
-Emily

Anonymous said...

I think the best book we read was The moustache because Michael, the main character makes a big descion in his life weather to pretend to be his granfather or not. His grandma was confused and kept getting michael and his grandpa mixed up. This reminds me of another real life story just in a different way.


Rashawn Bryant

Anonymous said...

The story that I liked the most was “Initiation”. Out of the five we’ve read I thought it was a story that me and my peers could relate to the most. First, the protagonist’s environment is very much like ours, it takes place in a high school and Millicent’s is our age. Also, the main character faces problems that almost everyone has confronted before. Thinking that having a good reputation or statues will help her relate to other people, she believes that being initiated into the sorority is exactly what she needs. I think a lot of kids my age will be willing to do what Millicent wanted to do. I think it’s because people feel insecure and want attention and interest from the people around them. They are blinded by their necessities and forget what’s really important to them. At the beginning she comforts herself by lying to herself that her best friend will eventually become part of the society. Yet, she later admits that the sorority will eventually separate them. Some abandon their real friends to be with people who only see what’s on the outside then their insides. ashley

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was "Initiation." I liked this story the best because I could relate to it the best. I know the pressures Millicent faced during her high school career. I could practically feel the pressure she underwent as the girls pressured her to perform stupid initiation tasks to prove her worthiness. Though I don't personally know of any sororities in high school, I believe they symbolize the daily pressures both boys and girls face during high school. Some unfortunate people even have to face hazing, like Millicent. Luckily, Millicent didn't have to undergo anything too strenuous but certain hazing accidents can be fatal. I think everybody experiences a certain degree of hazing or "initiation" during high school. A shy person may feel greatly intimidated and they must overcome their fear of elders and face their fear to succeed. Another person may face being excluded from a group they really want to be a part of. They must face the fact that the world isn't as sweet as they may wish. This is when coming of age plays a part in these people because they finally realize that the world is less forgiving and compassionate as they thought. The young adults come to the realization that the world is the same, but seen through different eyes. They are treated differently now, and we are forced to mature or we are left behind. During Millicent's maturing point, she surpasses the girls that force her to go through initiation and leaves their group and their childish games, after she proves she is tough enough to go through the infamous initiation. It is a true story of strength and marching to the beat of one's own drum. It tells the tale of standing up for what you believe in and not worrying about what others think.
*Jena

Anonymous said...

I liked Initiation the best because it was the most "relatable" to me. Millicent realized what she wanted, and it wasn't to be in a stupid high school sorority.
-Karen.

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was the “Initiation”. This story was my favorite because it related to situations that may happen in high school. For example, joining a group for popularity. Millicent joined this group for popularity even though it may have worked she allowed others to tell her what to do. This shows that Millicent was willing to do anything just to fit in. Most teenagers do this to fit in as well especially in high school. But after Millicent did what she did, she realized she didn’t need to join the sorority club for others to recognize her especially when she didn’t exactly know who she even was.
victoria

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was Initiation because i feel like it is the story that many people my age and myslef can relate to. It has to do with high school students and conformity, which is a big part of high school life. Millicent is self concious about herdelf and feels that it will make herslef cooler or better to join this sorority. She feels that if she joins the sorority, that she will feel better about herself and because it is the peer pressure of the other girls and how they want her to conform to thier ways. I think that this goes on all the time in ours or in any high school. Whether it be sports teams or specific groups of people, kids are always pressured to be like the "cool" kids or the "popular" kids because they are self concious about themselves and think that it will make them cooler or more popular to be just like them. Millicent grows up in the story because she understands that she does not need to conform to feel better about herself and I feel that I can relate to this the most out of any of the stories because it is such a common thing in our society.
-Jake

Anonymous said...

My favorite story was Initiation. This story was my favorite because Millicent had to deal with many things that people in our school deal with. Also I liked this story because in the end she wanted to just be herself.

-Kasey