intimidation614

The tone of the short story, "The Art of the Dam",  is honored and elated. Everyone can agree that the way the Hoover Dam is described makes it seem like a great accomplishment and achievement to what humans can do, and why they have come so far. Humans look up to the Hoover Dam and can't stop being in awe, feeling proud of what people can do. Who would ever think that regular human beings can get so far? It's truly amazing to what people can do, as long as they set their mind to it. Being a child, computers and all that other technology has been here since birth, but past generations would see this as a true beauty, and many must have been shocked and looked at that magnificent piece of artistic structure as a wonder.

A few words that were used to describe the tone in this passage would be marvel of modern engineering, grand design, and glorious example of modern art. All of these compliments and praise towards the sculpture are all positive, and all revolve around how modern it is and how beautiful and uplifting it is to look at the masterpiece. Like previously mentioned, many people would have been in shock to see such a great and uplifting work of art right in front of their eyes. The workers must have worked so hard to create this "marvel of modern engineering" and the designer should feel great for constructing this "grand design". Many could argue that they have seen better, and this is just some type of electricity generator, but it also stands proud as a marvelous example of human accomplishment and achievements.

            Parrot Constructed Response

   There has been debates on who actually broke the valuable vase, located in Mrs. Hoffman?s house. From Mr. Tom King?s 14 years of experience in training parrots, it seems hard to suspect that the parrot caused the breaking of the vase. The vase was valued at three thousand dollars, and meant the world to Mrs. Hoffman. Mrs. Hoffman claims that she came home one afternoon from the hairdresser, and noticed a horrified face on Billy, only to look in the living room and to her surprise, it had been in disarray. There were pillows all over, a **** vase, and fallen books from the shelves. Mrs. Hoffman argues that the parrot that was sold to her could have caused this tragedy, but Mr. King argues otherwise. Mr. King had been training parrots for 14 years, and directed the movie, ?The Purple Pirate?, where parrots were required to be trained.

   First off, in line 2 of Mrs. Hoffman?s statement, she describes Billy as an intelligent and creative boy; but, could it be that Billy used his intellect and creativity to come up with a story? In line 8 of Billy?s claim, Billy says that the parrot had picked up the pillows off the couch and threw them everywhere. Looking at the picture in Evidence B, there were pillows everywhere, indeed. However, in line 2 of Billy?s story, he states that he was typing a paper. Looking back at Evidence B, there appears to be a pillow right next to the typewriter, blocking Billy from successfully completing his paper.

   Next, in Evidence B it appears noticeable that there was a boomerang dangling off the shelves, and look as if it could easily knock something over. To one?s blind eye, that would pass their mind, but looking deep into the photo you can see that there were trophies on the shelves as well, along with a boomerang. Billy potentially could have been taking a break and decided to try out his boomerang that he enjoyed. Billy then knocked over the vase and placed it on the shelves as a cover-up. Why would there be a boomerang in a living room, anyways? Typically a boomerang gets used outdoors, and shouldn?t be used inside, which Billy knew and tried to cover-up in order to have his reputation remain at a ?good boy?.

   Lastly, it can be seen in Evidence B and C that there are a few items missing. In Mrs. Hoffman?s statement, located at line 16, it was said that the vase had fallen off a table. Looking back at Evidence B and C, it clearly doesn?t have a table located anywhere, and definitely not by the vase. If Mrs. Hoffman?s claim was that the parrot broke the table, then why should she put in facts that aren?t true, like false evidence? Look in lines 5 of Billy?s story, and line 17 in Mrs. Hoffman?s story, and it can be seen that they mentioned a perch and pedestal. Looking back to the evidence, there was not any crate, pedestal, or perch that Long John Silver, the parrot, could have rested on. If Mrs. Hoffman and Billy are telling the truth, why should there be more untrue facts in order to throw detectives off?

   All in all, the process of figuring out who did what will take awhile, analyzing every piece of evidence that was presented. Neither of the two opposing sides wanted the vase to be broken, and the whole thing could have been an accident. With Mr. King?s 14 years of training, it seems impossible that the parrot had done any damage to the vase; however, there are always suspects and only time will tell who broke that expensive vase, and there will be punishments and penalties if there had been lying involved in either of the statements.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

            Journal Responses Week 1

   Day 1
   The dialogue that occurs affects the mood like a negative connotation. This affects the mood by adding suspense to what those dreams were, and why they have returned. Grace?s nightmares most likely foreshadow the future, and the nightmares might just be true.

   Day 2
   The connotative meaning of the words distraught and admiration has a negative connotation. The words mean uncomfortable, stressed, and agitated. This affects the mood, seeing as it adds tension between Marty and Grace, not wanting to leave their school and be forced to move in with their uncle who was never once mentioned to either child. Marty and Grace begin to feel uneasy and worried.

   Day 3
   ?..No, sir. We haven?t found her yet.?
      - Who is she, and why are they looking for her?
   ?..No,? the man said. ?My name?s Phil Bishop, and this is my wife-?
      - How come Uncle Travis didn?t pick the children up?
   ?...Ah yes . . . The tragedy in the jungle. So, the children are going to live with him??
      - How does Blackwood know about Wolfe and why should the children be a concern?

   Day 4
   ?..Don?t you think that?s a little strange Marty??
   
   Throughout all of chapter four, Marty and Grace had been spooked out by the appearance of Uncle Travis? house on the island. At the end of the chapter, Marty and Grace find out the Cryptos Island means ?Hidden Island? and there is now a mysterious mood. Marty and Grace are now horrified and spooked out by what the name means, and are eager to know why the uncle has never been mentioned for sure now.

   Chapter Summary -
   Grace has had nightmares since she was two to six years old, and they have just came back, and especially at the wrong time. The twins, Marty and Grace, become worried and uneasy when they are forced to move out of their boarding school to live with their uncle who was never mentioned to either of them. Marty and Grace are greeted by their uncle?s maid and butler, finding out that he lives at an island just off the coast of Washington, and wonder why it wasn?t their uncle that was there to pick them up. Marty and Grace become spooked out by the fact that their uncle?s house looks like a haunted, abandoned house, and find out that ?Cryptos Island? means ?Hidden Island.?
   

            Cryptid Hunters Week Four Quiz

   1.) Marty and Grace experienced an 18,000 ft. fall from the belly of a jet when Grace accidentally activated a button to unlock the parachute route. Grace gets knocked out but Marty stays wide awake, frightened with PD and Bo. Marty manages to stay under control and makes sure everyone is safe, almost letting go of PD and Grace. Marty and Grace end up in a swampy area known as the Congo. Marty and Grace are then split up when Grace is still hung onto the parachute when Marty, Bo, and PD let go.

   2.) Grace begins to have these visions of a gray parrot that leads her through the Congo. Grace thinks that she is going psycho and this gray parrot is now changing the way she thinks, acts, and pursues things in life. Grace experiences changes and is not sure whether this parrot is just a vision and dream, or actually leading her to her parents.

   3.) Wolfe won?t be able to reach Marty and Grace until another week at the most. Wolfe can?t reach Marty and Grace instantly due to him only being to drive the Humvee to the Ubangi River, and then walk to Lake Tele the rest of the way.

   4.) Wolfe became a cryptid hunter due to his father being a hunter when Wolfe was growing up. Noah Blackwood and Wolfe?s father held a yearly meeting to discuss their hunts and Wolfe wanted to be in on that, but not mistreat the cryptids like Blackwood.

   5.) Wolfe thinks that Noah Blackwood is going to start cloning these cryptids. Wolfe has seen many cryptids, especially the El Chupacabra. This El Chupacabra is unlike any species Wolfe has ever seen and it looks as if Noah Blackwood had created a new animal species for the money.