Nates English blog

 Prompt Response: The film makes Chris feel more like a real person because you actually see his physical struggle and the brutal reality of the wilderness instead of just reading his deep thoughts. This visual shift reminds me of seeing a video of a storm versus just hearing the weather report, where the images make the danger feel way more urgent and terrifying. Seeing his actual decline on screen changed my perspective from judging his ideas to really feeling the weight of his isolation. Summary: We learned more about the story through the movie. Reflection: I learned more about the story.

 Prompt Response: My sister is the only person who actually gets me, kind of like how Carine was the only one who really knew what was going on with Chris. Even when I’m acting distant or stressed out, she knows exactly what I’m thinking without me having to say a word. We have this solid bond because we’ve dealt with the same family drama, which definitely mirrors the way Chris and Carine stayed close despite their parents. Having someone who truly understands your motives makes it way easier to deal with everyone else's expectations. Summary: We continued to learn about the book. Reflection: I learned more about the story.

 Prompt Response:  I picked the second question: How can being talented lead to overconfidence, and how does this affect Chris’s decisions and the risks he takes? Being naturally good at everything made Chris feel like he was invincible, which led to him thinking he didn't need to prepare like a normal person. Since he always succeeded in the past, he probably figured the wilderness would be just as easy to endure as a college class or a job. This overconfidence is why he took such massive risks, like heading into the Alaskan bush with barely any gear or a map. It shows he valued his own talent way more than actual experience, which ended up being a fatal mistake because nature doesn't care how smart you are. Summary: I wasn't in class. Reflection: I was on a field trip.

 Prompt Response: The movie makes Chris’s choices seem way more justified because the beautiful scenery and soundtrack make his journey look like a dream adventure. In the book, the lack of visuals makes me focus more on the cold facts, which makes him look pretty reckless and unprepared. The film uses close-ups of his emotions to help you side with him, but the writing makes his mistakes stand out much more clearly. Ultimately, the medium of film makes his search for freedom feel inspiring, while the text makes it feel like a series of dangerous decisions. Summary: We watched parts of the story Reflection: I learned how McCandless was portrayed in the movie.

 Prompt Response: Growing up, I used to think my parents were basically perfect, but getting older made me realize they’re just normal people who make mistakes like anyone else. This shift was pretty heavy because it made me look back at my childhood differently, realizing that some things weren't as simple as they seemed at the time. It totally connects to Chris in Chapter 11 because he’s dealing with that same kind of anger after finding out the truth about his dad’s double life. Just like Chris, once you see the flaws in your family, it’s hard to just go back to how things were before you knew the "real" story. Summary: We read new parts of the book. Reflection: I learned new parts of the book.

 Prompt Response: Chapter 1 stood out to me the most as it was where I learned the most from the book and where I was hooked. After reading the first chapter I felt like the book was very interesting and I was excited to read more of it in the future. The story of McCandles is like no other I have seen before and is why I am enjoying reading it so far. Summary: We took a test. Reflection: I learned how to apply my reading skills.  

 Prompt Response: Currently as a high school student it seems like success is defined by your SAT score and your grades. Being a junior and knowing that college is on the horizon everyone is either flexing their grades or sat score and I feel like that shouldn't be the only thing that measures your success. I think that success can be measured in different ways and not just about a letter on your transcript or a good grade on a test. Summary: We read new parts of the book. Reflection: I learned new parts of the book.