Hooks: Assign. #6

http://www.davidbordwell.net/essays/hook.php
There are four main types of hooks in movies. 1) A sound can hook to another sound. A line of dialogue at the end of a scene connects to the line at the beginning of the next scene. 2) A sound can hook to an image. A line of dialogue is answered by an image. 3) An image can hook to an image. An image from once scene will lead to another image in the next scene. 4) An image can hook to a sound. An image of something can be connected to a sound that means something. The last two are much rarer than the first two.

http://authormarketingtools.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/writing-the-introduction-how-to-hook-your-audience-and-keep-them-reading/
Start by asking the readers a question, or giving them a challenge. Then follow up with a good thesis that's got the basis and point of your work. And the rest of it should be stories and stuff that readers can relate and connect to. Following these things will create a great hook that will reel readers in.

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/print_article.php?articleId=10699
When trying to write a good hook to your writing, there are some things that really help. When you can't really think of what to write for the beginning, just write out the other ideas you have and fix it up later. Also, analogies provide great hooks. Sometimes stupidity will be enough to gain a reader's attention. Putting together an unusual combination of words can create a really great hook too.

http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/tell-tale-heart.html
The Tell-Tale Heart has a good hook because it starts with an exclamation. It makes you wonder why and what's going on that there would be an exclamation. And then he talks about being nervous, and that also makes you wonder what he's doing that would make him nervous. For these reasons a reader is interested enough to read on. A hook in reading should be short and interesting. If it takes a long time to be interesting, it's not a hook. Readers will start reading and lose the want to read it. Movies can also have just one short moment create the biggest hook for the beginning: a question about the characters, or just a clip of one scene that comes later in the movie. Extreme action could hook us to know why there would be that action. But movies need a little explanation sometimes for the hook. First comes a little bit of the hook, then some explanations, and then the rest of the hook.

Example 1: Transformers 2: Revenge of The Fallen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcz6yAYDT4g
There were questions posed at the beginning. "Why are these people hunting down Decepticons, what is all this running and fighting for, and what does this have to do with Sam Whitwicky?" I kept wondering what this was all about, and so I wanted to see the rest. The trailer does a good job catching your attention too. Shows the main character, your favorite Camaro, and humor. (Hah I laughed so much at that part!)

Example 2: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html (there's a link for a pdf file if you scroll down.)
The beginning starts with something interesting: the fact that he can't sleep. So if you don't know the Twilight series, you start to wonder why, and what exactly the main character is if he can't sleep. There's some humorous bits like " If there was any way to atone for my sins, this ought to count toward the tally in some measure." And, if like me, you didn't realize the main character is talking about not being able to sleep instead of wanting to sleep in school, then the purgatory line about high school's kinda funny :]

Example 3: Valiant by Holly Black
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Valiant/Holly-Black/9780689868221/excerpt_with_id/10292 (link to prologue)
The prologue of the story creates a great hook. There's so many unanswered questions in just 2 pages. The whole fact that someone is dying, that she's a tree, and she's been poisoned, creates this big mystery of what this book will be about. Oh, and who exactly IS Ravus? That's definitely something your mind says "Yeah, I wanna find out who that Ravus guy is."

All three of these hooks contain something in common: the mystery factor (yeah I made up the name for it). The mystery factor is how much it makes you curious and ask questions about it. Maybe I should've called it the curiosity factor. Anyway, all these hooks make you wonder why and what and who and how. Transformers takes the action approach, Valiant by the bookish action approach, and Midnight Sun with the pure curiosity approach. In both Midnight Sun and Transformers, there are bits of humor along with the hook, but Valiant went with a serious way. It's the kind of serious that's scary but intriguing. Either way, they all captured my attention and hooked me to the rest.

Definitions Story: Assign. #5

My parents were so sure I had swine flu, but I was a little ambivalent. I mean, I might have just had a cold, but my parents were so sure it was swine flu. So we went to get medicine for me, but the doctor said I didn't have a fever (although I was taking fever-reducing medicine at the time). I didn't want to be arrogant and say "I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T NEED STUFF LIKE THIS" but the doctor agreed to give me medicine because if it weren't for the fever-reducing medicine, I would have had a fever. The doctor told me to stay in my room until I finish eating all the medicine. I would revere his advice, but I still lamented the fact that I'd be a PRISONER for the next 6 days. So, as I stayed in my room, all own my own, I became very taciturn (it's not like I had anyone to talk aloud to.. I'd be going crazy if I thought I had anyone to talk to aloud O.o)

The medicine made me very nauseous the first three days. It made me lose my appetite, and at the end of the break I found that I had lost a lot of weight. I mean, I didn't lose so much that I became this angular-faced person that looked almost dead, but I did lose some. And then during the first three days of my nauseousness, I found that there was a TON of homework on Edline. There were some times when I disdained the fact that the teachers were giving homework to me when I could hardly sit up right. I would throw a fit in my room (no audience though ;P) but there were times when I was serene and accepted the fact that I'd have to do it. Anyway, I spent my 5 days in my room and on the last day I was allowed out of my room :D After a couple of days I was fine and I went to the movies with my friends. I embellished myself (I mean, first time I'm going out in a WEEK), but not too ostentatiously. I was just so happy to be going out!!

Swine Flu Nouns: Assignment #4

THE ARTICLE: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/08/25/200908250048.asp

Singular
H1N1 flu virus
semester
school

Plural
concerns
schools
infections
students

Common
school
drug
people

Proper
Lee Myung-Bak
Tamiflu
Relenza

Collective
government
Health Ministry

What is the importance of nouns?
Nouns are the subject in almost anything we say. They are so important because everything must need a subject or else it's pointless.

How do they affect our everyday lives?
Without nouns, we wouldn't be able to talk to anybody. Well, we could talk, but it would be gibberish and no one would be able to really communicate. Talking and communication is a big part of our everyday lives, and nouns affect it in the biggest way possible.

Would the English language be limited without nouns? Why or why not?
Definitely yes. Without nouns, I wouldn't be able to say "Pass the eraser please" because 'eraser' is a noun, and I can't even say "Give me!" to make up for it because 'me' is a noun. Technically, we wouldn't be able to say nearly anything.

How do nouns affect other languages?
I'd guess nouns are really important in other languages too, because nouns are usually the subject. Some Korean can be used without a subject but that's like, casual, slang-ish Korean. Like "Give me" could be said in Korean without a subject. Anyway, nouns make things much more easier and better.

Good Ideas: Assignment #3

Pakistan Burn Victims Turn Beauticians
There is a very good idea as the basis for this article. Even from just reading the title, I'm interested to read the story of these Pakistan burn victims. The topic is somewhat narrow; the author included stuff about the women's past and present, other burn victims in Pakistan, and who and what exactly helped them become beauticians. A lot of good details came from that, but also, the topic has become kinda broader than it needed to be. OK let's go back to the details; they're relevant, good quality, and they answer the things I'm curious about (but saves them for last). The author has quotes like this one: "Every person wishes that he or she is beautiful," says Liaqat, 21. "But in my view, your face is not everything. Real beauty lies inside a person, not outside." which gives good support and shows that the author has gone and done his research and gotten his/her materials. Quotes as details also shows accurateness. Overall, I would give this article a 5 out of 5.

The Coming-Out Stories of Anonymous Bloggers
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/21/outing.anonymous.bloggers/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
The article has a fresh idea for its topic. I mean, no one usually writes about what happens to internet bloggers, you know? Not only is the topic fresh, it's narrow and easy to manage: anonymous bloggers become unmasked. There are many details to the article, like many incidents where bloggers were forced from their anonymity. Lots of quotes, but not too many, which is good. I think I'd give this article maybe a 4.5 out of 5.

Children with Lead Poisoning Jam China Hospital
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/21/china.lead.poisoning/index.html
Interesting title...Made me wanna read what exactly happened to the poor kids. Topic is narrow and manageable. Quotes and details from companies, government, and parents. Obviously knows a lot about what he/she is talking about. It got a bit dull at the end though 'cause I already found out what I was curious about. I'd give this a 4 out of 5. Still has good ideas, just not the above-and-beyond.

Tracks of Life: Assignment #2

COVER:

4 or 5 years old:
Tomorrow - Annie
This is the first song that I fell in love with. Moved to Canada, didn't know any English, but I watched the movie Annie and my sister and I went around the house singing this all the time~


8 years old:
Untitled - Simple Plan
I remember seeing this music video randomly on the TV and I fell in love with it. I remember this being the first music video that I watched and thought "awww.. :("


10 years old:
Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood
I had gone to church with my grandparents in Canada, but I never really understood it. This was the first time I allowed Jesus to take the wheel.


12 years old:
Scars - Papa Roach
I always tried so hard to please others. No matter if it would be completely inconvenient for me, I would always do everything for others.


Perfect - Simple Plan
A sort of hard time when parents and I weren't in a good place. Nothing changed what they said, but we're all good now.


14 years old:
Move Along - The All-American Rejects
Faught with friends... and I had to move along.


Fire - 2NE1
I have a really good memory of my friends and this song. We went crazy in the gym and were dancing and singing to it in front of the fans and on the stage. :]


Lollipop - Big Bang, 2NE1
...The first time I lost my phone. T^T It was pretty new. My parents were REALLYYYY mad... it was a Lollipop (that's what the phone was called and this song was made for the commercial).

What is Writing?

1. What characteristics describe “good” writing?
I think that good writing has a strong voice. Without a voice, writing would become a textbook :/ and textbooks are incredibly boring. I like writing that has voice because it's interesting and it feels like someone (the main character in the book, or the speaker, or the author) is telling me a story. I also think good writing is organized. Without a good beginning or hook, a solid body, and a satisfying conclusion, the piece of writing would be a mess.

2. What is the process of writing?
The process of writing starts with pre-writing, which is organizing your ideas. Then comes the drafting, which is just writing down your first version of the writing. And then comes revision, which is when you fix the first draft into second and third drafts, making stuff like sentence fluency and organization better. Then you edit your writing for punctuation and grammar, and then finally you publish it (like a final draft). This process makes writing so much more organized, and it actually makes it better because you're revising and editing, when if you weren't using this process, you probably would've stopped at the first draft of it.