A Great Author.....Rick Riordan

Introduction

Rick Riordan

     Have you read the Percy Jackson series? If your answer is yes, then you must surely know one of America's best known author, Rick Riordan. This man, best known for writing the Percy Jackson series & the Olympian series, is the cause for thousands of students in America developing a love for reading. Born on June 5th, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, he completed Alamo Heights High School. After graduating at the University of Texas at Austin with double majors in English and History, he was certified to teach English and History. Then, he got his first full-time teaching job at New Braunfels, Texas. This man sure likes to write!

His Books

The Lightning Thief

     Rick Riordan has written lots and lots of books that hundreds of thousands of people in America love. Just a few of these books are The Lightning Thief, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. And although he is very proud of his writing, he still is unsure of which book he loves best. In fact, according to www.rickriordan.com,"Favorite book I wrote: That’s a hard question for a writer. It’s like asking which of your children is your favorite. I like them all for different reasons." His Percy Jackson & The Olympian series are the #1 New York Times bestselling series! Rick Riordan has not only written books about Greek mythology, but also has written books about Egyptian mythology! I can tell why he loved to teach English and History!

Conclusion

      In conclusion, Rick Riordan is an amazing author! He has written lots of bestselling books, and will continue to do so in the future. He has a very interesting past with English and History, and I think we can all tell why he loves to write about mythology! His bestselling book such as The Lightning Thief and The Last Olympian have inspired the hundreds of thousands of kids around the United States of America to either try to write more and practice or to develop a love for reading. This man is truly a one-of-a-kind author who really loves to write!

A Question For You

     Do you think that Rick Riordan is a good author? Explain.

How Do Animals Communicate?

Introduction

Have you ever heard your dog barking at another dog, giving him/her a warning? Then you must know that animals can communicate. However, do all animals communicate by barking, meowing, or any other sound you can think of? Absolutely not. Many animals have different ways of communicating. For example, us humans our language and words within that language. We also write letters and communicate through word on a piece of paper. However, if someone is blind, how will they read the words on the paper? So, humans invented something for that too. It is called Braille, which are raised blocks that represent letters and words. Just in the same way, if an animal has weak hearing of a weak eyesight, they have something else to make up for that.

What Ways Do Animals Communicate?

     As I mentioned before, animals have many different ways of communicating. But these don't only involve sounds. It can involve sonar, looks, or even gestures. According to wonderopolis.org, "Many different types of animals use a range of sounds to communicate. Has your dog ever barked to be let out of the house? Perhaps your cat has meowed when she’s hungry? All you have to do is spend some time along in nature and keep your ears open to hear the wide variety of communication going on around you. Whales sing, wolves howl, birds tweet and chirp, and frogs croak. Although you probably can’t tell what they’re saying, they’re certainly communicating with each other and the world around them. Sounds aren’t the only way animals communicate. Like human beings, they can convey messages in all sorts of nonverbal ways. For example, the wag of a dog’s tail can indicate a wide variety of emotions and messages. Here are some other interesting examples of nonverbal communication among animals: Peacocks can fan their feathers in an impressive visual display intended to communicate a territorial warning. Many different types of animals mark their territories with their scent as a clear message to others to stay away. A dolphin may slap its tail on the water to get the attention of others in the area. Bees tell other bees when they’ve found nectar by “dancing” when they return to the hive. Deer flick their tails to warn other deer following them of possible dangers ahead. Animals can obviously communicate with other like animals of the same species, but can different species communicate with each other? Absolutely! Have you ever seen a dog communicate with a cat to let it know that it’s not wanted in its territory? Perhaps you’ve even been the target of a mother bird’s communication if you’ve accidentally stepped to close to her nest!"

Conclusion

     In summation, there are many ways animals can communicate. Just a few of these ways are sonar, looks (such as expressions), and gestures. For example, according to wonderopolis.prg ," the wag of a dog’s tail can indicate a wide variety of emotions and messages. Here are some other interesting examples of nonverbal communication among animals: Peacocks can fan their feathers in an impressive visual display intended to communicate a territorial warning. Many different types of animals mark their territories with their scent as a clear message to others to stay away. A dolphin may slap its tail on the water to get the attention of others in the area. Bees tell other bees when they’ve found nectar by “dancing” when they return to the hive. Deer flick their tails to warn other deer following them of possible dangers ahead." In conclusion, there is a wide variety of ways animals can communicate. 

A Question For You

     Name three other ways animals communicate.

Down A Dark Hall Novel

Introduction

     Are you a person that loves mysterious books with intense suspense and new surprises every chapter? In that case, Down A Dark Hall is the perfect novel for you. When Kathryn Gordon (also known as Kit), is left at a boarding school called Blackwood because her mother and stepfather have gone to a honeymoon, she gets suspicious. She fells that the place is "evil." Then, after the rest of the students come in, she realizes that there will be only 4 kids at Blackwood. Their names are Ruth, Lynda, Sandy, and of course, Kit. Then, one night, Kit wakes up only to find that she is playing the piano with her music teacher, Jules, to record her. Then, when she brings everyone down at 2:00 A.M. to find out what's going on, she gets some shocking information. Kit and her friends have been brought to Blackwood to receive information from spiritual people who had much to offer to the world, but couldn't because they died at a young age, such as Franz Schubert. Read the rest of thee book to find out what happens next!

My Opinion

     I truly love this book! There are many reasons for why I like this book. In this action-packed novel, there are many scenes where you expect something, but something else happens. When you least expect something to occur, that's when it happens. For example, when you are in a tough situation and you think it can't get any worse, but then, it does. Similar situations happen in Down A Dark Hall. Secondly, there is a lot of suspense in the book. Since you really don't know what happens, it adds suspense, making you crave to know what happens next. This book is suspenseful, mysterious, and thrilling book that is sure to leave you craving to know what happens next. This is why I love this book!

A Question For You

     Based on my description of this novel, what is your opinion on Down A Dark Hall?

What Is A Hatrick?

Introduction

     Have you ever heard of your friends talking about that amazing hat trick last night? But do you know what a hat trick really means? Well, a hat trick is when you have three successes in any sport. But how did this hat trick thing get started? Well, according to Wonderopolis.org,"Although many people understand that a hat trick means accomplishing a particular feat three times during a game, not many know where the term came from. As it turns out, the term can be traced back to England and the sport of cricket.

In 1858, HH Stephenson took three wickets in three balls — a feat that doesn’t happen very often in cricket. According to legend, a collection was taken to honor Stephenson’s achievement, and he was presented with a hat bought with the proceeds. Others believe that the term may have also developed from the practice of “passing the hat” around to collect donations to reward a spectacular athletic feat. The person performing the act would then be given the cash from the hat. But what about the “trick” part? In the mid-1800s, magicians had begun developing new tricks, such as pulling rabbits or other small animals or objects out of hats. Since incredible athletic deeds seem a bit magical — and might require a bit of luck — the term may have become popular because of its association with these popular magicians’ tricks."

How Is It Used Today?

     Today, there are many hat tricks in many different sports. A hat trick applies to lots of sports including soccer, cricket, and hockey. In fact, there are also different, and more difficult hat tricks! A flawless hat trick is when a player scores three consecutive goals in the same game without anyone else scoring a goal in between or interfering with the three consecutive goals. A golden hat trick is when a player scores three goals with different parts of their body. In order to score a golden hat trick, a player must score one goal with their left foot, one goal with their right foot, and finally, one goal with their head. However, this term can also relate to not only to scoring goals but also amazing or incredible feats. For example, a player can have a hat trick of assists or a hat trick of strikeouts. So, as you can see, a hat trick can be used in many different ways today.

Conclusion

     In summation, a hat trick is when you have three successes in any game. This idea was first created when a cricket bowler named HH Stephenson took three wickets in three ball, something that does not happen very often in the game of cricket. Since then, the term hat trick has been used to describe three consecutive successes. Many famous and impressive player such as Lionel Messi, Radamel Falcao, or Cristiano Ronaldo have all dreamed of such moments in their career. The term hat trick can also  be used to describe not only three successes but also three other things in a row. For example, three consecutive assists can also be said as a hat trick of assists. 

A Question To You

     Do you think that scoring a hat trick in world league soccer is a big deal? If so, then why?

One of the World's greatest, Falcao!

Introduction    

 Ever hear of one of the world's greatest soccer player, Radamel Falcao? This Colombian footballer has great skill and much to offer. Born in February 10, 1986 to a professional Colombian defender, Radamel Garcia, he first started off in a Colombian team called Lanceros. He has many, many trophies, including the one and only Portuguese Golden Ball award. In fact, he is the only Colombian footballer to get this marvelous award According to Wikipedia.com,"Falcao has been cited among the top strikers in the world.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} Falcao surpassed Jürgen Klinsmann's record of 15 goals (17) in a single annual club football European competition UEFA Champions League/UEFA Europa League campaign in 2011. He also played a key role in guiding F.C. Porto to a second Europa League title, as well as finishing undefeated in the 2010–11 Primeira Liga season. In July 2011, Falcao received the Portuguese Golden Ball award, becoming the first Colombian to do so.^[14]He came fifth in the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or. He was named in the FIFA XI for 2012.

My Opinion

I believe that Falcao is a fantastic player. Anyone with enough skill, energy, and confidence to get that may awards is a great player by my standards. In addition, Falcao is ranked 4th in Fifa, which is a very hard thing to do. The Fifa World cup is full of amazing players such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, and Iniesta. And for Falcao to be number 4, it truly shows that he works hard to be the best, and is one of the best in the world. According to Wikipedia.com,"

In his first three seasons in European football, Falcao scored over 100 goals.^[15] Falcao had played a key role in Atlético Madrid's 12 match winning streak in a single Europa League season, making it the first team to do so.^[16] He also became the top goal scorer in both tournaments.^[17] Falcao won his first UEFA Super Cup in 2012, becoming the first player in history to score a hat trick in the contest since its reform in 1998.^[18] On 9 December 2012, Falcao scored five goals in one game in a 6–0 home victory against Deportivo de La Coruña.^[19][20] In the 2013 Copa del Rey Final, Falcao played a crucial part in Atlético Madrid's victory over Real Madrid, ending the 14 year unbeaten streak which Real Madrid had held in matches against Atlético prior to the final." To be able to accomplish so many great feats prove that he is a great player indeed.

Conclusion

     In summation, I believe that Radamel Falcao is one of the best players in the world. Even sites such as Wikipedia show the great feats that he accomplished, such as scoring 100 goals in his first three seasons, which prove that he is a great player. In addition, he has many famous trophies such as the Portuguese Golden Ball award to prove how good of a player he is. 

Comment and Question to You

Although I believe Falcao is a marvelous player, I also know that there may be some people who are better than them.

Do you think Lionel Messi, the world's best soccer player is better than Falcao?