Think about "I Just Kept on Smiling" by Simon Burt.
Write one paragraph answering the following question: Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
Write a second paragraph answering this question: If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
Each paragraph should be at least 6 sentences. Remember to refer to your list of misspelled words in order to avoid mistakes!
Hello.
ReplyDeleteWhich event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
I believe that the most important event of the plot is when Nick Carver took the blame of stealing the books and was punished by Dom Francis, the Latin teacher. The reason that makes me believe this, is because even though he didn’t steal the books, he confessed that he did it. I think that he did it because he wanted to save his friend (the only friend he had). Moreover, that I don’t understand is why didn’t the boy even thank Nick Carver, but in contrast, he thought that he “stole” his secret.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If I had the chance to change an event of the story, I would choose the one I mentioned before with Nick Carver admitting that he stole the books. I would make him not do it, in order not to humiliate himself with the sign, and also I’d make him try to convince the other boy change character because in the text, he seems sly. But, if Nick finally took the blame, I would make the other boy learn from his mistakes and prove the innocence of Nick by handing back the exercise books. In that way, the boy would be punished and the teachers would ask Nick why he did it. And that’s how we could learn why he did it.
Thank you.
Good argument, Stavros. It was very well written, too. However, I just keep thinking about how our narrator attempted to confess to stealing the books, but Dom Francis didn't believe him. I think that event maybe changed the narrator's feelings about having stolen something. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWhich event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
ReplyDeleteThere are diffrent parts of the plot I find importont but the most important for me is the turning point the climax. The climax is the most important point for me becase everything is tense. In this story it was when nicky carver confesed but wasn't guilty. While the narator confesed and wasn't belived. This part was my favorite because it completely gave another sense to the story
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If I could change something in the story I would change the hidding place of the books. I would change it from the chapel, to, the narrators bed; under the materess. I chose to change the hidding place because I think he would have more control of the books and it would be more logic that nicky carver new about him stealing the books.
It's true that Dom Francis didn't believe the narrator when he confessed that he stole the books for the only reason that he didn't consider him sufficient to do something like that. But I don't think that the narrator's feelings changed a lot because not only stole the books but he also threw them away because he didn't want them to remind him anything. Besides he became more unlikeable to the readers in the end when he said that Nick Carver “stole” his secret. That's why I wanted Nick Carver to come out victorious from this story because he was the most wronged.
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Gelso!
ReplyDeleteHere is my response to the blog assignment:
Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? and why?
I think the most important part of the story, “I just kept on smiling”, is when the narrator goes to confess to Don Francis, the Latin teacher, that he stole the exercise books. Also when Don Francis doesn’t believe him, I think it is very important because I understand from this is that the narrator isn’t known to be a trouble maker, and he keeps a low profile, or in other words he doesn’t have a bad reputation. So it is hard and nearly impossible for Don Francis to think that he stole the books. It made the moment very tense especially when the Latin teacher used the sentences “Do you take me for a fool?!” or “Who put you up to this?” It makes the reader perplexed and encourages the reader to think about the story more.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
The event in the story that I would change would be when Nicky Carver, the narrator’s best friend, appears at the table with a card written thief on it, and when the narrator says that Nicky “stole” his secret. I would have changed this part because I think it is pretty selfish and unfair of the narrator to just sit there and smile. I would prefer if he went up to Nicky Carver, took the card written thief on it and post it on himself, and says in front of everyone: “Nicky, thank you so much for taking the blame for me, but I am the real thief here.”
In my opinion it would have changed all the characters point of view towards the narrator. They would stop thinking he was just a strange boy who always kept things to himself. Also, the two bullies who made his life difficult, would have more respect for him because they would understand that the narrator is courageous and that he as a good friend.
I hope you enjoyed reading my response!
Hi
ReplyDeleteI think the most important part of the plot is when he tells Dom Frances that he stole the books and he doesn’t believe him. I think it is the most important part because it shapes how the story is going to end. At the end of the story is obvious but it still surprises you that somebody else takes the blame for stealing the notebooks. It is also the most important part because when Dom Frances don’t believe him it makes you think what is going through Dom Frances head and why he doesn’t believe him. I think it is the most important part because it is the climax and it is very tense, it makes you think what is going to happen and if he is going to punish him when he tells him that he stole the books. That is why I think that is the most important part of the plot.
One event of the story I would change is when Nicky carver took the blame, instead the narrator could give the teacher the books instead of ripping them in to pieces. It could also be change by somebody else could take the blame instead of Nicky. The narrator could also try to tell the teacher again and try to convince him by giving him the books. Instead of Nicky carver taking the blame Nicky could convince him to tell the teacher that it was both of them also. The narrator could maybe convince somebody else to take the blame to. That is the event that I would change in the story.
Bye
Christian
Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
ReplyDeleteI think that the most important part of the plot in the story is when the protagonist goes to tell everything to the teacher, that first doesn't belive him, but that at the end gives him, a punishment. I think that this is the most important part of the story because it changes the the rest of the story, when instead the teacher, Dom Francis could have not belived him at all and give the punishment to the entire class.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If I could decide to change one event in the story, it would be when Pigott goes to the protagonist and tell him that he needed to say the trough to Dom Francis, as soon as possible. I think it would be more intersting to now if the little criminal would say everithing or just keep on smiling without anyone that going to obligate him.
I would make the protagonist shut up untill he wouldn't restst anymore and tell the trought.
Hi Ms Gelso!
ReplyDeleteI really had problems posting this, I tried 2 times and the page closed. I don't know why.
Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
I mostly think that the most important plot was when Nicky Carver took the blame of stealing books from the author. So he was punished by Dom Francis, since Dom Francis didn't believe the author he stole the books (I think he though someone else put the author to say he stole the books), but he would believe anyone else who would say that. For me, this is the part where I actually understood the whole story, and what it's all about.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
The event I would change would be when the author said that he stole the 3 exercise books. If I was him, I would have never done such a thing, even the most scary guy on earth would tell me to. You can easily get detention or even worse, an F to behavior.
By the way, I really enjoyed this story Ms Gelso, I hope we will have similar ones. Have a great weekend (:
I think the most important event in he story was
ReplyDeleteWhich event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
I think the most important event in he story was
when the narrator at last confesses that he stole the books in front of the teacher.At least, he tells the truth to save his class fellows from getting beaten up by the teacher. Even though the teacher doesnt believe him and thinks that he is lieing.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If i could change one event in the story it would be, when nicky carver lies and tells the tracher that he stole the books even though he didnt. Why should Nicky Carver take the blame for stealing the books, Just because he wants to (save his the one and only selfish friend). Ithink its not fair with Nicky carver to sacrifice for a friend who doesnt even care about him. It wouold change the rest of the story because if Nicy Carver wouldnt take the blame then at last the narrator would have to tell the truth and confess that he stole the books.In this way he Would realize that what he did was wrong.
Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
ReplyDeleteThe most important part of the story is when the narrator tells to his latin teacher Dom Francis that he stealed the books but the teacher didn't believe him. The next day Nicky Carver took the blame of stealing the books and was hardly punished. The reason that he took the blame of it is because he wanted to save his only friend from the punishment. At lunch time the narrator didn't thank Nicky but he thought that he “stole” his secret. But then the narrator smiled at him at lunch time and he smiled back. I like also this part of the story because it is very clear, at first it was mysterious and at the end everything came out.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If I could change one event in the story it would be when the narrator steals the exercise books and then after a few days he rips the exercise books into tiny pieces but for Dom Francis they were important. It is also wrong because they were very new. The narrator didn't have to throw them away but take them back to the latin teacher. I think the narrator should behave well like his other classmates and didn't steal what wasn't his stuff. I think he exaggerated when he threw it away in small pieces. I also think he did it because he didn't want them to remind anything to them. I also think it could change this story because at the end he would give the books to his teacher and he would be happy to have them back and also the narrator should apologize to the teacher.
Have a good weekend!!!
One of the most important scenes of the story is when the boy steals the book from the greek teacher's desk! This event had a very negative impact to the teacher, and it brought him to the idea of slepping every kid of the class unless the guilty boy would have confessed!This happening created a great tension imbetween the boy and all his peers. I find that another very important part of the book is ehrn nick carvwr confessed and gave himselfe his fault.It impressed me the severe way that nick was punished by the greek teacher!!!!!
ReplyDeleteif I could have changed the plot of the book, i would have made the boy confess when he had the opportunith, withoutputting in danger all the boys and all his friends. it would change the rest of the story because there would not be any more conflicts imbetween the characters! if the boy would have confessed by putting the books on the desk of the teacher when he was at linch.....no one would have knoun that he caused all the tension, and the teacher wouldn't have slapped him!!!!!
For me the most important part of the plot is when the narrator confesses thathe stoled the books ,even if the teacher didn't believed him . Well from here everythig gets less tense and slowly every student that knew who stoled the books treated badly Nicky Carver so that he would of confessed what he did .
ReplyDeleteEven if i could of changed something in the story ,sincerely i wouldn't because i personally think that the author wrote the story perfectly and i don't think it will be nice that someone changes a story already written.
Alessandro--
ReplyDeleteI agree that many times the most important part of a short story is the climax. However, in class your group (and other groups!) decided that the climax was when the narrator confessed but Dom Francis didn't believe him.
Excellent point, Stavros! Great argument!
ReplyDeleteEveryone really has done well with this post. Yet I'd like to post a question for all of us to think about...
ReplyDeleteMost of us thought of Nicky Carver as "taking the blame" for having stolen the books. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if the narrator's description of Nicky Carver as having stolen the secret is more accurate. Why DID Nicky Carver confess? The whole class had already been beaten as punishment! What was his motivation?
Write one paragraph answering the following question: Which event do you think is the most important part of the plot? Why?
ReplyDeleteIn the story “ I just kept on smiling” by Simon Burt the , main event is when the main character goes and confesses that he stole the Latin exercise book to Dom Francis and he refuses to believe that he had stole the books. I personally think it is the main event because little by little the narrator’s action was leading to his confession and his punishment. Starting from the point were he doesn’t cares and hides the books in the church, followed by knowing Nicky Carver, the innocent kid that dislikes what the unknown thief did, and finishing by getting beat up by Piggott’s gang. All this events were taking guiding the narrator to his confession and when the reader expects the punishment Don Francis refuses to believe he had stolen the books.
If you could change one event in the story, which one would you choose? Why? How would it change the rest of the story?
If I had to change an event from the story it would be the initial part when he steals the books but if I changed that part there wouldn’t be story. If I had to change a part of the story that would keep the story going it would be the part were Nicky Carver confesses and in a way steals the narrator’s secret. I also chose to change this event because it gives the story more sense, because Nicky Carver confessed after everybody was punished, to be punished again??? No one with common sense would have done that. By changing this event the story changes because Nicky carver wouldn’t have been embarrassed in front of the school by wearing the sign around his neck saying thief. There’s also a bad part about changing this event in the story is that it takes the intrigue away because it would have finished like abnormal story but instead it ends with the narrator saying that Nicky carver stole his secret and that he kept on smiling and that lives a reader with a cliffhanger and a doubt of what happened.
To me one of the parts that interested me more;is when the boy steals the exercise books from her teacher, I do not know why he did it but for me it wasn't a very smart move because if anyone had confessed all of the class would be punished. One other part that interested me is when Nick Carvwr confesses to her teacher saying that it was he that steald the exercise books and that only he was punished.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to change one part of the story I would not let nick carvwr confess saying that it was him stealing the books because he had not steal the books. I would have just changed that part because for me everything else is very well done.
ReplyDeleteFor me the most interesing part of the book is when the boy reveals that he had stolen the grammar books and the teacher didn't believe him. Another part is the end, when Nick Carver says that he has stolen the books and at lunch when the boy sees Nick, he just smiled at him.
ReplyDeleteIf I could change an event in the story I would say that when the boy sees that Nick Carver said that it was him to have stolen the grammar books, the boy would say to the teacher that it wasnt' true and that it was him who stoled the books. It would be even more fair, so that Nick Carver who didn't do anything would not be punished.