Journal Entry 57: What Makes Fire

In Hatchet, Brian has to rely on what he has learned in school, while playing, watching television, and observing what is around him. One of the things he has learned about is the conditions necessary to make a fire. List the tree things Brian knew he needed and explain what each thing means. Describe the two ways Brian tried to make fire and how he needed all of the conditions listed above. What might have been lacking when he attempted to start the fire. Why couldn’t he start a fire by rubbing the sticks together?

The three things Brian knew he needed for building a fire are oxygen, heat and also something flammable that fire can burn on. Fire obviously must need oxygen, because without oxygen, it can not burn at all, and that's why it's better to live in space because there is no possibilities of causing a fire! Fire also needs heat, because if it's not hot, then there wouldn't be fire at all. Fire also creates warmth, but it needs heat to create it first. Having a spark because you have oxygen and heat is easy, but to be able to make a spark turn into fire that burns is much harder, like Brian found out. In order to keep a fire burning, you need something the fire can burn on, like paper, and it has to be dry and, well, just like paper. The first time, Brian tried to make fire by creating heat using friction. He failed because there was not enough heat, and it'd take him days to make the heat just right and also, he wouldn't be able to keep the fire for long because there's nothing the fire can burn on. Then, Brian tried making a fire using grass and twigs as the things for the fire to burn on. That, too, did not work well, because the material wasn't right, and he needed something finer, like paper. He then ripped his money into pieces, but the fire only lasted a little while because there wasn't enough things for the fire to burn on. Finally, he goes out to collect suitable wood and he finally makes a decent fire and is able to keep it burning for a long period of time.

Journal Entry 56: Lost in the Woods

What would you do if you were suddenly lost in the wilderness? Do you know any survival tactics? How would the environment affect your ability to survive? For example, how would being lost in a forest be different from being lost in a desert? Or in the mountains? Describe the place you are “lost,” and then describe step-by-step what you would do to survive and find your way home.

If I was suddenly lost in the wilderness, I'd panic and then probably scream. After screaming, I'd probably stop and think about everything and the possibility of dying and also how long I might last. I don't know a lot of survival tactics, and I am really, really, really, scared of any insects, seriously, any at all! I think the ideal place to be lost in is somewhere people go camping and left small houses and supplies there. Ha, I know that's pretty lame, but, I don't have much skills. If I was lost in a forest, I'd probably scream every minute because of all the bugs, but I might have a better chance of surviving because there're more resources. If I was lost in a desert though, unless I accidentally find an oasis, I'll be dead in 2 days. If I was lost anywhere while it's snowing, I'd more likely die in 2 hours, because I'll just freeze to death. If I were lost, I would most definitely not make it back to my home. Yes, I know I'm a little pessimist here, but that is just the truth. I, Janet Lin, would never find my way back home if I were lost in the wilderness like Brian.

Journa Entry 55: Personal Assets

In Hatchet, Brian survives a plane crash and struggles to stay alive while lost in the wilderness. What personal assets does he have that help him survive? What personal attributes does he have to overcome? What are your greatest assets? How might these assets help you succeed in life? What personal assets do you have that might help you survive in the wilderness? Do you think you have any qualities that might hinder your survival rather than help it?

Some person assets that helped Brian is that he is very determined, smart, and optimistic (most of the time). His being very determined helped him survive, because he was very determined not to give up and to survive. He's also quite smart because he knew how to make ladders and weapons with just his hatchet and shoe laces. He was also optimistic, thinking that planes will come rescue him, and that was like his motive for living and working. He was a city boy though, so he doesn't really know much about the wilderness and is inexperienced. He is used to having food that's prepared by others and having everything set up and prepared for him. He also has a "secret" to worry about and he is kind of depressed by it. My greatest asset is probably that I've gone camping quite a few times in my life, so I guess I have some experience with the wilderness, and I also read a little about natures and animals. I do have a lot of qualities that might hinder my survival though. First of all, I am not very determined and I might easily give up if I were Brian. And, I don't think I would've done anything when the pilot had an heart attack. But, unlike Brian, I'd give up on all hope when the other person he tried to talk to before the plane crashed stop talking. I also am VERY afraid of some animals and insects of all kinds. So, truth to be told, I don't think I'll survive at all in the wilderness.

Journal Entry 54: Solving Problems

In Hatchet Brian finds himself confronted with a number of serious problems that he has to overcome. He solves many of the problems by calling on something he has learned earlier in life, like when the pilot showed him how to steer the plane, or things his teachers taught him. Have you ever learned something from someone, or from a book, from television, or from a movie and used that knowledge in your own life? Describe how you used previous knowledge to solve a real-life problem.

I can't really think of anything in particular that I learned and then used to solve real-life problems, but I've definitely tried a few funny pranks in some of the books I've read. It's really funny and much more interesting to see how people really react to pranks (gosh, I'm a mean person!). Even though it was fun, I kind of learned that the person (or people) being prank'd might not find it as amusing as I do... Some other things that are really useful I learned from books (not textbooks) are: how to deal with peer pressure (really useful) and how to ignore people like boys and hateful "not-very-smart" people. I definitely don't find math useful. I mean, why would we need to learn algebra and all those complicated equations when really, in real life, all we need to know is basic adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing? After all, we're just kids, we're not going to fix computers or invent a time machine! Seriously, I have nothing against math, personally, I think it's awesome and brings up my grades, but I just don't see how it can be useful. English is pretty useful though. Even though I probably won't grow up to be a writer, I can still use really deep and hard words to intimidate people or insult them (ha ha!). Science is quite useful too. It taught me that washing my hands with just water will make my hands dirtier than if I don't wash is at all. So, now I'd either use soap or not wash at all (just kidding, only use soap to wash.). Even though the things we learn may seem insignificant and useless to us now, I think it will definitely be handy in the future, at least I hope so... :)

Journal Entry 53: Triolet

Triolet, is one of the fixed forms of verse invented in medieval France, and has been preserved in the practice of many modern literatures. It consists of eight short lines on two rhymes, arranged a b a a a b a b. The first line reappears as the fourth line, and the seventh and eighth lines repeat the opening couplet; the first line, therefore, is repeated three times, and hence the name. Although originally a serious poetic style, triolets are now generally short, humorous poems.
Line 1 and 2 make an observation
Line 3 rhymes with line A
Line 4 is line 1 repeated
In the second stanza line 5 and 6 involve a twist, change of view, or add another idea.
Line 5 rhymes with line A
Line 6 rhymes with line B
Line 7 repeats line A
Line 8 repeats line B

PE (btw, this is not serious, I personally love PE)

After PE, especially when it's hot,

everyone smells extremely unpleasant.

But some even smell like rot,

after PE, especially when it's hot.

Combined with the injuries we got,

PE is just like an unwanted present.

After PE, especially when it's hot,

everyone smells extremely unpleasant.

Prince Charming is who every girl seek,

and to have a happily ever after with.

A guy that buys us roses every week,

Prince Charming is who every girl seek.

But all the guys we know are too meek.

Perhaps Prince Charming's just a myth.

Prince Charming is who every girl seek,

and to have a happily ever after with.

... not. LOL (Just kidding. No offense to every single guy I've ever known!)

Journal Entry 52: You and Nature

Nineteenth-century writers like John Keats, author of “On the Grasshopper and the Cricket,” shared their ideas and feelings about nature. How do you feel about nature? What do you see in nature that scares or disgusts you? What secnes, creatures, and patterns in nature fill you with wonder and awe? Think about the natural world and write down some of your thoughts.

I've never been particularly fond of nature. I actually really hate insects and a lot of other animals too. I just like to be in nature, but still be safe and distant from other living things. I sometimes like lying down in the grass, but as soon as I think about all the insects and worms crawling around me, and possibly climb into my clothes or something, I'd shudder and jump up as fast as I can. Even though I don't like the creatures in mature, I guess I still like nature. Nature is calming, and whenever I'm surrounded by nature, I feel like there's nothing in the world I should ever worry about. I love feeling the wave makes me sway when I'm in the ocean and I also love how beautiful it is when it snows, the way the whole earth seems to be covered in a white blanket, it's just so magical (and there're no insects!!!). Even though I do dislike some creatures of nature, like birds and their sharp claws, I still admire the way they live their life. They don't need to worry about unnecessary things like their grades and stuff; all they need to worry about is food. And they're so free, no one is telling them what to do and what not to. Although nature may seem beautiful, mysterious, and holy, it still has some scary sides. Like it can flood our homes in seconds with a tsunami or a lot of rain, and make a building topple with the force of an earthquake. Nevertheless, nature is beautiful and should be respected.

Journal Entry 51: Limerick

For today's journal you are to write three limericks. For instructions on how to write a limerick, go to this website: http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/limerickcontesthelp.html
Here's and example:
The limerick packs laughs anatomical
In space that is quite economical,
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean,
And the clean ones so seldom are comical.


There once was a young girl named Janet,
who lives on a blue-green planet.
She lives in a house,
Where there are no mouse,
And she also likes granats.

There once was a guy who can't write,
and he also has a bad eyesight.
He tried staring at sun,
and using a gun,
so now he is not alright.

I really don't know what to write,
so I guess I shall go fly a kite.
This doesn't make sense,
and it's not in past tense,
and now I shall say my "Good night"!


...yeah, I finally finished this. Too bad my limericks are horrible. XD