Holiday Season Summons Memories of Good Deeds by Tara Dixon Engel

 1) How does the writer want the reader to feel when reading this column?

         

          After reading this column, it is easy to see how Engel wants the readers's emotions to be. By using touching good deeds and gestures, the readers are supposed to realize how the holidays truly bring out the best out of each other. The column makes us appreciate the little things like compliments, or kind smiles from strangers. It doesn't always have to be this big, grand gesture, but rather something small and genuine that we remember the most. In the article, the news reporter was so apologetic and anxious when she didn't have all the money, thinking that the attendant would call the cops on her, but instead he put another $2 worth of gas into her car, and told her to have a Merry Christmas. The reporter referred back to the event and said: "It was a small gesture, from the attendant, wherever he is, has likely long since forgotten. But I never forgot. Through all the years--almost 30-- and all the kind things people have done for me, I still remember that simple, heartfelt gesture"(Engel).

2) What does the writer want the audience to remember the most?

        Like I said in the first prompt, Tara Dixon Engel probably wanted us to remember that good deeds are sometimes better when they're small, because they look like the people did these good deeds effortlessly, making it genuine. Also she probably wants this article to inspire us to be more like the people in this column, making us want to do more good deeds for others. I was definitely inspired reading about the reporter and the gas attendant, and the kind gesture was heart-warming. But there is no problem with big gestures, Engel proved as she said: "I've had volunteers willingly hand over their coat they wore here to someone who needed it more than they did." These type of nice and caring things make us as the readers feel proud of the community in which we live in, and also the people in the community who would make these sacrifices for someone who they may not even know.

3)What is the purpose of the column?

        I think the purpose of this column was mainly to inspire people and show how the holidays have made people do some awesome things for others. I also think it was to recognize the people who made these kind gestures, as they may not have gotten much credit at the time. It brings some recognition to the House of Bread organization as Engel states how:" The House of Bread is a nonprofit community kitchen which serves a hot, nutritious lunch to anyone in need, in addition to providing personal hygiene and cold-weather items." This column acknowledges these not so well-known organizations and shows their gratitude to everything they have done.

4)How does the author utilize diction and syntax methods effectively to support the writer's message and purpose?

         The quotes and the direct statements from people really make this column sound like a story, which I  liked. It flows well and it makes it fun to read because everyone's personal experience sounds like a short story. The section about the military family had a lot of syntax and quotes, and these quotes really got Engel's point across. When Engel was talking about the family, she said:"My daughters were 3 years old and 11 months old at the time. When she spotted him coming down the hallway where we were waiting, the smile on his face was priceless. The months of separation had been worth it. Even more powerful, she said, was the look of joy on her 3 year old's face as she raced up to her father yelling "Daddy's home! The hug they shared made this moment all the more special. It was a day I'll never forget." The quotes, coming from the perspective of a military wife, really makes us appreciate the service and sacrifices these people make, risking their lives everyday in the military. It makes us grateful and thankful, and it also makes us appreciate everyone, whether its our friends or family.

5) What is the value of this column to society? What difference does it make that this column was written? How does this column send a message to society that society perhaps needs to be reminded of in our present day?

         This column is a great thank you note to all the people who effortlessly do genuine acts of kindness, but is also an eye-opener to maybe people who need to think of other sometimes. In this column, it is evident that these good deeds to not require money, time or work but simply just a kind gesture like pumping extra gas in their car and relieving someone of their anxiety. So I think this column is worth a great value to society. The difference that this column makes is that it informs us of all the good things that people are doing. With so much conflict in our world, catastrophes, disasters, etc., it's nice to take a break from looking at the negatives and focus on the positives. 

Insurgent

         

             I have finally finished Insurgent, and although I really liked the book, I am excited to read something new.

            From where I left off, here's a quick summary of how the book ended. After Peter saved Tris and Tobias, and they all fled from Erudite, they go to the Abnegation faction, more specifically to Tobias's home. There, they meet up with the factionless and their old friends. Tris later runs into Marcus, who tells her that Abnegation has some secrets they were going to reveal, and those secrets are the reason Tris's parents died. Tris doesn't know who to trust--Tobias or his abusive father? She decides to side with Marcus.  Christina comes along with Tris and Marcus, pretending to be Abnegation and Amity members. They arrive at the Amity faction and ask Johanna (Amity's faction leader) if they can speak to any Erudite that are in the Amity compound. Johanna holds a meeting to inform the Amity members about what is happening between the faction systems, and how she is on Tris's side. At Amity, Tris meets loyal Erudite members-- one named Cara (who is Will's sister). While they're on the way to the city, Tris asks one of the Erudite members if he knew Caleb. He tells her that he did and that Tris should not judge him harshly about what he did. They break into Jeanine's control room but while they're in them, Caleb comes in, trying to stop Tris. Marcus smacks Caleb, knocking him out. They figure out that the information is not in the control room, so they head to the laboratory. They run into Edward on the stairs, who is furious because they're now basically traitors of the factionless and Dauntless. Edward shoots Christina in the leg and she shoots him in the side. Marcus and Tris need to keep moving so they leave Christina there. Tris and Marcus split up. Tris goes into a door, and there she has to fight a simulation against herself. She fires the gun and defeats her simulation self. Tris races into the lab but finds Tori there, screaming at Jeanine and beating her. Tori wanted revenge on Jeanine because her brother was killed under Jeanine's command. Tris stops her, saying that they'll never get the information if Jeanine is dead. Tori calls her a traitor. Uriah and Tobias come, and Tori tells them that Tris is a traitor. Tobias tells Tris to tell the truth, and since her truth included helping Marcus, he doesn't believe her. Uriah and Tobias take Tris away. Christina is fine but Lynn dies. Before she dies, Lynn say she loves Marlene (who is also dead). After everything happens, Tori sets some rules. Amity will not be apart of the faction system but will still have to produce food for them. As she is talking about how the new system will be, Evelyn (Tobias's mom)  speaks up and says how there will be no more factions. While this is going on, Tobias, Marcus, and Caleb, had managed to hack into Jeanine's computer system. It was a video with a woman speaking, who ended up being one of the city's founders. She speaks about how Divergents make the world a better place. But the most shocking part was that her name was Edith Prior, meaning she is related to Tris.

            While reading the book, I also watched the movie. I have to say that I definitely liked the book better. First of all, they are very different from each other. The movie was mainly centered around this box, that had something very important in it, which ended up being the video. Also the movie didn't make me curious about what was going to happen next. It didn't end with any cliff hangers or anything to make you want to see the next movie. Overall they both were pretty good, but like I said before, I need a break from Sci-fi and I want to read something new.