First Outside Reading Book

My topic for the inquiry project is spies and espionage. The first book that I chose to read was The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and I thought that it was okay. I expected there to be a lot of secret missions and projects but it was a lot different than I expected. There was a lot of secret agencies that were hard to keep separate from each other. The story took place in the 1950's and 1960's and often felt very outdated. I expected it to have some technology incorporated into the spying but there was almost none at all. I hope that the next two books that I read will be more modern and updated. It was interesting to read about the espionage in a different time period because I have previously only been exposed to modern espionage. I also thought that it was interesting to learn about the espionage after the Cold War because that was when it was at its peak. I also think that it was cool that it took place in a country other than the United States. It was difficult at times to understand the word choice and names but I thought that it was interesting because of that.

Socratic Seminar and Paper

I really enjoyed the class discussion today because everyone was involved and we could really discuss the book. I liked the outer ring and how we could comment on the discussion in the middle while having our own discussion through technology. I think that it was a really good way to use technology in the classroom and it was successful. I think that it was a good way to wrap up the book and to answer any questions that we still had left. Regarding the actual discussion, almost all of my questions were answered and I heard different opinions that were helpful. I think that the discussion in the middle was more helpful in answering my questions but the outside was more entertaining. It was cool to see how everyone was commenting on the middle discussion in real time. I hope we structure more class discussions like this because everyone was involved and participating. I also benefitted the most from this type of discussion. I think that the paper that we are about to write will be a good way to finish the book but my topics may be difficult to blend into one thesis statement. I think that I may have to write one combined statement with two parts but I hope that they flow nicely into one statement.

The End of The Road

The end of this book is rapidly approaching and I am wondering how it will end. I hope that this last section of reading is filled with informative information that will tie up any loose ends. I do not have a final prediction on how the story is going to end, but I think that neither the boy nor the man will die. I think that since they have reached the ocean, there isn't anywhere else they can go. They have reached their endpoint but it hasn't really been that great. I thought that the temperature would be warmer, but it hasn't been any relief to the man and the boy. I also question the boy and the man's thought process because there is no source of supplies down south, so they are forced to find food the same way they found it when they were traveling. I hope that the ending is pleasant and not sad but also filled with opportunity for a new life that is much better than their post- apocalypse life. The story has been pretty depressing lately because the south and the ocean just isn't what they thought it would be, so I hope it turns around soon.

The Road

This past section has complete changed my opinion of this book. Before reading the third section I really disliked the book because it was just dragging on. The boy and man had no purpose of going on and they were clearly miserable. When they finally found food in the shelter they had time to recuperate and eat. They were really close to death before their discovery and it was just painful to read about their struggles. When they found the bunker they suddenly had more than they needed and the story became interesting. If McCarthy hasn't added this part to the story than I would have kept my same opinion of the book. Now my opinion has shifted to enjoyment of the book and anticipation of what is to come. Now since they have found food, it is more enjoyable to read about their journey because they aren't so desperate. My two topics for the envelope project are keeping me interested in the book too. Religious comments are made all the time. At first I thought that he was just calling to God in times of struggles and blaming God but now I believe that his faith and purpose for life is rooted in his son. His son has become his own religion. My second topic is ash and fire. The word ash is mentions practically on every page so I have to pick the most important references. I am actually eager to continue on because of the latest section.