Debates

Arguments with parents:

1. Usually at home
2. It serves as a way to get across ideas why someone shouldn't have to do something
3. Yes it helps because that way your parents know your side of the story
4. It is unstructured
5. You may have less of a chance of winning against your parents because it could turn to yelling, which would only make your parents even more mad.
   

Court Cases

1. Court rooms
2. Either putting someone in jail or getting refunded for things that were lost or taken
3. Yes
4. Structured
5. It makes it more official, more valid, and a lot more organized.

School Debate

1. Class rooms
2. To determine a winner between the two schools
3. Not really considering they aren't real court cases
4. Structured
5. It helps each side get its opinion in to better determine a winner
   

week 2 part B

Dear Mr. Wayne Coffey,

I am writing another letter to you to comment yet again on your book, Boys of Winter. In this section (pages 38-75), you give a lot of background information of a few of the players. The first was Bill Baker, whom you described as a poised player with a great savvy for the game. You also speak of William “Buzz” Schneidner and the “conehead” line that he was on with John Harrington and Mark Pavelich, who all grew up in the Iron Range and know each others wild style of play. You also go more in depth with mother players, like Jack O’Callahan. But one thing I can certainly tell is that there is a theme as far as the players’ mentality and personality: they are all hard workers that tend to keep to themselves, rather than flash off and brag out their talent and achievements. Coaches and people who known a thing or two about hockey have always told me to work hard but don’t brag, at least that’s what I have been told in my childhood as a hockey player. I have always known this, yet I always seem to brag about things I have done, even though it somehow comes back to bite me. It also fits with Herb Brooks’s theme of teamwork because he took “the right players, not the best ones.” This happened probably because the best ones tended to be very flashy and arrogant.

Sincerely,

Erich Rectenwald

week 2 part A

Vocab:

• haranguing (p. 46)- to deliver a scolding or long or intense verbal attack
• ubiquitous (p. 55)- existing or being everywhere

Quote:

• " 'With so little time, you don't think anything can happen. What can happen?' " (p. 74) This quote was said by a Soviet player named Bilyaletdinov, and he is talking about at the end of the first period with just a few seconds left where the puck was at the Soviet net after a slapshot was taken at the other end of the rink by defenseman Dave Christian. The Soviets at that point were leading 2-1 and the Americans didn't have very much momentum. That quote is significant because right after Christian iced the puck, Mark Johnson, an American player, hustled down the ice and scored with 0 seconds left, which gave the American a tie at the end of the first period as well as a huge morale boost.

week 1 part b

Dear Mr. Wayne Coffey,

In reading your book Boys of Winter, I was very touched while reading the prologue when you are explaining Herb Brooks’s funeral. The reason why I was touched by this is because I had met Herb about six months before he died. After talking to him, I realized how great of a man he was, and I was really glad that I met him. Also, just a couple of months before he died, he sent me a picture of the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team that he coached (what your book is about). On that picture was his signature, along with a note saying, “Dear Erich- Go for it.” I thought it was very nice; however the true meaning of it really did not sink in until after he died. Since then, I have kept it on my desk, right in front of where I sit to do my homework because it reminds to push myself to be the most I can. That artifact also makes me very special knowing that such a great man like Herb would send such a valued object to me. It truly shows what a great, caring person he is, and I have a lot of respect for him. Also, I would like to thank you for writing this book. I am a big fan of the “Miracle on Ice” and it’s great that you are telling the untold story. I cannot wait to read the rest.

Sincerely,

Erich Rectenwald

week 1 part a

Vocab:

• restoking (p. 16)- to poke or stir up
• barren (p. 28)- not reproducing

One emerging theme of my book is team work and how you can accomplish a lot if you have it.

***ACTUAL Explanation

• The Boys of Winter by: Wayne Coffey
• 2005
• 273
  
• It uses challenging vocabulary and is a compelling story
• This book is about the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team, and I am a fan of hockey.
  

Explanation Outside Reading 2

• I Am America (And So Can You!) by: Stephen Colbert
• 2007
• Nonfiction
• 230 (Small print though and big pages)
• The topics are mature (American Family, Race, Religion, etc...) plus when I read a few pages of the book there were many challenging words.
• I chose the book because Stephen Colbert is very funny. He has a show on Comedy Central called "The Colbert Report" and I have always thought that show was funny.