Essay Discussion

Hello kiddies!

Asalaam Alaikum.  Hope all of you are doing real well.     Great job with finishing the two books!   Most of you are done with your blog assignments also!  Yay!

So onto our first essay discussion/write-up.   Ramona Auntie and I would like to ask you guys to write a compare and contrast essay.  You will be comparing the two protagonists, Charlie and Jody, of the stories you read.   Below are some guidelines regarding what we would like to see in your essay - 

ONLY FOR NIMAH - Substitute yourself for Jody.   Follow the guidelines below, but compare YOURSELF and Charlie.

• The essay should be atleast 5 paragraphs
• There should be one introduction paragraph and one conclusion paragraph within these 5 paragraphs.
• There should be atleast 5 sentences in each paragraph
• All your opinions should be supported
• Provide atleast 6 traits that you are comparing/contrasting.  That means, 3 traits that are similar, and 3 that are different. PROVIDE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FROM THE BOOK
• Hints for comparing/contrasting -

• What sort of outlook on life do both the protagonists have?
• What sort of relationships do both kids have with their respective family members?
• How do both kids react to circumstances in their lives?
• What are the living circumstances for both the kids?   
• Compare and contrast ANY trait, ANY similarity or difference between these two.  Provide supporting evidence!

Okay kiddies - off you go.   You have till next Sunday night to give us your first draft.  Ramona Auntie and I will read them, provide feedback just to you, and then you can fix/adjust/modify your essays a bit based on your corrections, and then give in your final draft by the end of the following week.

Love,

Aunt Ramona and Aunt Saima

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Chapters 16 - 30

Asalaam Alaikum everyone,

Hope everyone is having a good day and is enjoying the summer!

So here are the questions for chapters 16 - 30.   Please answer any two by Friday.

I will also post an essay that you'll have the remainder of this week and the next week to work on.    You may email them to me and Ramona Auntie as attachments.  If you can't, give any one of us a call and we'll walk you through the process.

Ramona Auntie and I will provide feedback on the essays while you guys read up on our next book - The Ranger's Apprentice - Book 1.

Questions for Chapters 16 - 30.  Goes without saying - you need to provide supporting argument.  Don't just tell me what you think, but also tell me why you think it.  Show me proof from the books.

1. Do you think Willy Wonka knew all along which child would win?  Why?
2. Why did Willy Wonka want a child as the owner of the factory?  Why did he think grownups were not suited for this position.  Do you agree with his analysis?  BROWNIE POINTS - Research the history of chocolate factories in those times.   You'll see why this fictional story was inspired by true events
3. How would Charlie have reacted if he hadn't found the golden ticket, or if he hadn't won?  How would his life be? 
4. Is the author sending a message from this story?  What is it?  Do you agree with it, or disagree?
5. Have you ever experienced anything in life that would make you relate to Charlie?  What?  And how would you relate to him?  What did you do, or did you not do?
6. Why do you think Grandpa George, Grandma Georgina, Grandma Josephine were scared to go to the chocolate factory?  Shouldn't they have been excited?

Love,
Aunt Saima and Aunt Ramona

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Chapters 1 - 15

Asalaam Alaikum everyone,

NOTE -  Apologies for the late posting of chapters 3 and 4 (The Red Pony).   For some reason, even though the blogs were published, they were private and couldn't be viewed.  Nevertheless, they are all there now.

For those of you who couldn't find it - you have till Friday to publish your answers for chapters 3 and 4.

Onto Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ...

 Hope everyone is doing well.  So, please read the first 15 chapters (if you have a 30 chapter book).

Then, answer any 2 of the questions below:

1. Describe the environment and times that Charlie lives in?  What are his family dynamics?   What's his daily life like?  Does he have chores, homework, responsibility?  Compare and contrast with your daily life and your living environment, and with those around you.
2. Does Charlie have a quest, or a purpose, or a goal in life?  What keeps him going?  Does he ever feel low, or very saddened, in life?  Why?  When?  Does he ever feel like he's the luckiest person alive?  Why?  When?
3. How do you think Grandpa Joe compares to other grandfathers?  Do you think his presence, and negative or positive attitude contributes affects Charlie in anyway?  How so?
4. Would you classify Charlie as a selfless person, a selfish person, or neither?  Why?  Give specific examples (atleast 2) from the book to support your argument.  

Good luck and happy reading!

Aunt Saima and Aunt Ramona

The Red Pony - Chapters 3 and 4

Inshallah all of you are finishing up with chapters 3 and 4- which means we are almost done with our first book. Yay! Please finish reading and answer chapter 3 and 4 questions by Sunday, 6/9. Next we will be reading the exciting tale of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". 

Have a great week and Happy Reading!

Aunt Ramona & Aunt Saima

Chapter 3 Questions
1)Why Is the chapter called The Promise? Do you agree or disagree with that decision?
2) Why does Jody address his parent as sir and ma'am? Is the role of parents different today than it was during Jody's time? Explain why or why not?
3) Why did Billy claim that he is half horse? Is it possible? Why or why not?
4) What is Jody dream about? 

Chapter 4 Questions
If it was you in the story, what would you dream about?1) Which chapter was the best? Why?
2) Overall did you like this book? Why or why not?
3) What was your reaction to Mr. Tiflin's attitude to his wife's father? Do you think it was appropriate and why?
4) How would you behave if you were Mrs. Tiflin's father ?
5) Rewrite a new ending to this book.

The Red Pony - Chapter 1

Asalaam Alaikum everyone,

Hope you all read the first chapter of the The Red Pony.    Below are the questions.  Please answer atleast 2 questions, but we would love it if you could answer all of them.

Make sure your answers are atleast 5 sentences, the sentences are complete sentences, and that your opinions have supporting details.   

1)Who is the main character of the story?  Do you like him/her– why or why not?

2)Would you like to have a pony – why or why not?

3)What time period does the story occur (ancient times, pioneer days, present day, future) – how do you know?

4) Do you like the way this author tells the story – why or why not?

5) Would you like to live on a farm – why or why not?

Aunt Ramona and Aunt Saima

Online book club: The Red Pony - Welcome!

Online book club: The Red Pony - Welcome!: Asalaam Alaikum everyone, So we have decided on a book!   The name of the book is The Red Pony by John Steinbeck.   This book is an epis...

The Red Pony - Welcome!

Asalaam Alaikum everyone,

So we have decided on a book!   The name of the book is The Red Pony by John Steinbeck.  

This book is an episodic novel about a 10-year old boy named Jody.  It is divided in four parts.

We hope you enjoy the reading!  We sure will :).

Your blogging questions will be posted by Sunday, 5.12.2013 and your comments and blogs will be due by 5.19.2013.

Well - I'm off to reading.   You all have a great day.

Love,
Aunt Saima and Aunt Ramona

Hello bloggers!

Asalaam Alaikum!  Welcome to the very first family online book club!  I'm very excited to welcome you to this forum, and I hope you are excited too ... :)  (If you're not, just fake it, will ya).

So ... this will be our very own, personal, family online book club blogging site.   There are some rules to follow, and I'm sure you'll have no trouble following them as you're all good Muslim kids.

So - on with the rules:

1.  You'll be asked to read a set number of chapters each week.  The number would vary based on the type and complexity of the book.

2. Ramona auntie and I will post 3 - 4 questions for you to answer.     Please answer atleast 2, but I'd love it if you answered all of them.

3.  You'll be partaking in an online discussion about the chapters, just like a virtual book club!!

4.  You can not, absolutely, positively, be rude, condescending, disagreeable, impolite, or in any way offend anyone on this forum.

5.  Please make sure your initial 'answer' to the question is atleast 5 sentences.  The sentences have to be complete and have to make sense.  Your opinions should come with reasoning and supporting arguments.  I want to know why you think it, why you choose to disagree with someone, or agree with them.

Okay, that's it!!!!   Easy, eh?  

I'll update with the name of the book shortly.  You guys can begin reading once we're done!!!

So, happy reading folks!

Love,

Your aunt Saima