LAQ #2 Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger

1. The novel I read is a non-fiction story about a high school football team in Odessa, Texas. An all black school was closed down to merge with an all white school, Permian High school. It talks about six unique players of the team and there lives on and off the field. The story follows the 1988 season of the Permian High School and its players with all the struggles they faced and triumphs they achieved.
2. The author chose to write about the Permian Panthers season because it is an interesting story that not only focuses on football, but also the life problems the players faced. In Odessa, Texas, there was racism, economic problems, high expectations of the boys playing, and how where they lived effected the living conditions.
3. I chose this book because I've watched the movie and it's very inspirational and shows there's more to life than just football. Once I heard there was a book of the movie though I really wanted to read it. My dad also recommended the book because he wants me to understand the true football experience and some of the hardships these players that have their hearts and souls poured into his is like. As I began reading, it went more into depth of each of the main characters than the movie did.
4. I found this book very realistic. The family bond showed by the players on this team and how hard they pushed eachother so hard is something I've always wanted to be apart of. This year I know our team isn't on the same level as the team I read about but its without a doubt the closest bond I've ever had with a team and I consider all my team mates my brothers.

1. Yes the author did have some affect on how the characters were portray but for the most part, the story is almost given in a type of report. The story jumps between the lives of the different players and I feel that the author accurately describe each ones life. You can also in a way compare them to what happened in the years following to get a better idea of if these portrayals were correct.
2. Brian Chavez- He loves to play football for the excitement it brings but unlike most the others he doesn't plan to have a career in it. He is the only Hispanic on the team and is more focused on his grades because he plans to get into Harvard after graduating his class of 88' as valedictorian.

          Boobie Miles- By far the best athlete on the team. He can do it all on the field, no matter what
          it is. He is one of the most highly recruited players in Texas but unfortunately, all he has is
          football and nothing to fall on. Being black in a racist community, he escapes it for the most
          part because of football. But after a career ending injury in a scrimmage. He is lost in life not
          knowing what to do next.
     3.  This is only a few of the players covered in the story but what makes them interesting to write
          the different backgrounds they come from and how they choose to live their lives. For instance
          Boobie Miles and Brian Chavez have two completely different looks on life. Chavez is looking
          For his future to continue in his education while Miles is completely reliant on football.

1. Examples of direct characterization is when they are telling you how big one of the players are and their appearance like when they point out that Brian Chavez is the only starting Hispanic on the team. Most of the indirect characterization comes when the author takes you into the life outside of football like the problems faced at home and how they react to them or how other people around Odessa talk about them.
2. When the authors attention shifts from the football field to the life of each player. There's a more serious tone that follows it. Each player has their struggle like Jerrod McDougal. There are intense periods of fighting between him and his dad and it is made apparent in front of the rest of the team. The author really has an intense tone when describing his life because it is his dad trying to live through his son.
3. It's hard to focus in on one protagonist but I would say that they are dynamic. After they all graduate, you see even if they move on in football or leave it, they end up having to change to life. Boobie Miles tried giving football another go on a lower level college but his injury held him back from being the player he used to be. Without football, he was forced to eventually leave it and find a new calling.
4. After reading the story, I wish I could not only meet the players of the story, but play with them. I want to know what that experience is like and how being around people like that would affect my life.

1. The author of the novel wrote in a journalistic report. Not only is he the author but he narrates the story because he was in the town of Odessa, Texas during the 1988 season. Surprised by what he found in this town he began following the Permian Panthers and their lives in Odessa. He tells the story from his viewpoint of the situations unfolding infront of him because he is considered an outsider to the town.
2. There is more of a focus on the action and dialogue unfolding in the town. There is many different things to see and here from the intense and emotional games and practices on the field where the entire town shuts down to watch the games on Friday night to the arguments and struggles that are the players over come like Boobie Miles fighting with doctors trying to prove them wrong.

         

To Be or Not To Be

My question is, should I or should I not.
Should I just sit back and let things happen or go and do something about it. If I take action, it will all be over and worries will be gone and if I don't, I'll sit there and wonder what if? It's these thoughts that make the struggles of life seem so long. Will I be able to deal with someone who was clearly disrespected my family. I'm scared of what will happen after because that is unknown to me, and my thoughts of it make me more fearful. What ever I choose to do, please forgive me.

Vocabulary 7

cursory- going rapidly over something.
The welder had cursory tendencies and that's why the weld qualities aren't the best.

impetus- a moving force.
His influence was impetus on people because they would vote for him constantly.

pinnacle- a loft peak.
After the win, the team was sitting on a pinnacle over the competition.

contumely- insulting display of contempt in words or actions.
His rival was contumely, he showed no respect at all.

bereavement- a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one.
The family was in bereavement after the tragic lost of their grandfather.

cache- a hiding place.
It seemed like a good cache for all of the soldiers ammunition.

consummation- the act of completing.
The student know for consummation of projects with great quality.

calamity- a great misfortune or disaster.
The calamity of the earthquake ruined many people's lives.

avarice- insatiable greed for riches.
The millionaire had an avarice personality, so he kept getting more money without using it to help anyone.

fortify- to protect or strengthen against attack.
We need to fortify ourselves better against terrorist attacks.
 

erratic- deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion.
The pilot was on an erratic course for the run way.

ubiquitous- existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time.
It seems that the president is ubiquitous, he always seems to be everywhere.

fortitude- mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously.
I have respect for him because he shows fortitude in the face of the enemy.

nonchalant- coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited.
He has that nonchalant walk to him because he thinks he's the best.

affect- to act on something.
All players want to have an affect on the team that will help them to win.

effect- what is produced from a cause.
The effect of the chemical is that it produces carbon dioxide.

misappropriate- to put to a wrong use.
Using a toilet brush to brush your teeth is VERY misappropriate use.

pragmatic- of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
The teacher never listens to suggestions and sticks to his pragmatic ways.

metacognition- higher order thinking that enables understanding, analysis, and control of one's cognitive processes, especially when engaged in learning.
The student was a metacognition when it came to learning about subjects she really liked.

devoutly- devoted to divine worship or service.
Some people have devoutly life styles so intense, they are willing to start wars over it.

Vocabulary 7 Suggestions

Devoutly

Quietus

Perchance

Pangs

Bodkin

Fardels

Ophelia

Orisons

Awry
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Aalamity

My Value

In my life, I wouldn't say I'm the risk taker. I would take some every once in the while and some times they turned out bad, and others turned out good. There are times where I think, what if I would've said this or done that. In recent years, I've learned to let go of that fear. When opportunities come up, I'm becoming less fearful of that know and willing to take the risk. These risks have been a positive for me too and that only builds my confidence to make more. Even especially now, it's my senior year, I have only one more shot at opportunities before I'm completely on my own.

To Act or Not to Act

Both Shakespeare and Steve Jobs talk about the values in our life but in different ways. Steve Jobs says that the unknown is scary but he still went in because you will never know what may happen. In
Jobs case, the unknown led him to own a billion dollar company that we know today as Apple. Hamlet on the other had is hesitant. He is scared to go into the unknown because he is not sure how it will change his life, but he knows if he doesn't do anything, he will live his life in wondering what would have happened if he did take the risk.

Dear Steve

In the passage I read about Steve Jobs, I was amazed. All these bumps in the road and curve balls thrown at him, and he says that they are the greatest things that could have ever happened to him. He takes what most people would look at as negatives and set backs and made them positives. Never does he look at being fired from apple or dropping out from college as life ruiners, but something that he would be able to "connect the dots" on later. I think all people should live like this and take a stab at change and opportunity. The unknowns in our life bring fear to us but you never know what may come out of them.