The Reply Of Mimi's Teacher

My Work:

What is it like to embark on a quest with superpowers? Is it fun and easy? The majority of people would probably answer yes. Our heroes might be able to answer the question for us. Despite the fact that Jason has no memory of his past life, he still has to lead his newly made friends on a dangerous quest. He needs to save Hera, or Juno. The two companions, Piper and Leo, assist him in surviving every stop and engaging in more and more battles. They have kindly agreed to allow us to interview them. Please join us in welcoming these demigods. Our characters will discuss the challenges they have encountered and the lessons they have learned during their quest.

Aineo: How are you, Jason? You suffered a concussion, according to my understanding.

Jason: Thank you very much. I am feeling much better now. My head has finally cooperated with me.

Aineo: Let's begin. In your opinion, what was the most challenging obstacle you had to overcome?

Jason: My amnesia would be the most frustrating obstacle. It was difficult for me to think straight after I awoke, let alone lead a team! Despite this, having fun with Piper and Leo made me realize that you do not always need your old memories; you can create new ones. As a result, life became much easier.

Aineo: Oh, Jason, it must have been painful; if it were me, I would’ve held Hera guilty. Imagine waking up on a bus one morning, not knowing where you were, and not even your own age. (Pages 2-3) There was no way to respond, and you were in a state of shock. It must be difficult for you to live a life constantly interrupted by such chaos. Hera is the cause of your misery!

Jason: I try to rescue her instead of blaming her. In helping her, I am also helping myself. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Rather than seeing themselves as victims, sometimes people can rise to be saviors.

Aineo: Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jason. It would be beneficial to people who are experiencing the same issue.

Aineo: It is my pleasure to welcome you, Leo! We were just about to start without you!

Leo: Hello, Aineo. Let's get started right away.

Aineo: Okay, so what was the most difficult aspect of the quest?

Leo: To be honest, fighting cyclopes by fire would be the most challenging part of the task. In addition to looking terrifying, she was screaming at me throughout the entire time, which was not very considerate. One aspect of that experience was particularly frightening: I used fire. It is the thing I have sworn never to use. I guess if you are about to get eaten by some cyclops, it doesn't count. I was never supposed to share this information with anyone! ...I know mom doesn't blame me for harming her, but I still... for a while, I couldn't sleep at night...well. Piper and Jason are helping me get over it; look at me here talking to you about it!

Aineo: I am impressed with how much you have progressed. You displayed admirable courage by helping your friends. Your mom would be proud of you for saving your friends and facing fear.

Leo: Well, thank you for your kind words. The truth is, my fear and regret were so overwhelming that they even put my friends' lives at risk.

Aineo: I believe that is not an easy lesson at all. Do you remember the time when you were thinking about how you promised never to use fire again? (Page 142) Since the accident, you have come a long way. After a catastrophe like that, people often freeze up when confronted with similar circumstances. It was a remarkable accomplishment for you to overcome your past.

Leo: My fight for what matters now has to move on. I hope one day I will be proud of my dad’s abilities!

Aineo: It is a pleasure to have you here, Leo. Thank you for sharing.

Leo: Goodbye!

Aineo: Hello, Piper! I hope you are doing well.

Piper: I'm fine. How are you doing?

Aineo: Would it be possible for you, Piper, to tell us what you have learned through this quest briefly?

Piper: Oh, let's see. I guess I'm even less sensitive to insults now. It would not matter if someone suddenly called me ugly since these things are nothing compared to what we have been through. In the past, I believed that I could handle teasing easily. However, looking back, I now realize that punching someone every time they called me a name was pointless and ridiculous. Like Virginia Woolf said, "The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages." I have learned that I cannot cave into other people's doubts before creating who I am. It is other people who feel insecure around you, not you. It is your destiny to shine.

Aineo: What enlightening word! Life would be limitless if we had this kind of mindset! Especially knowing what you have been through makes it even more precious. I remember an instance. One of your classmates once said, “Hey Piper, does your tribe run this place? Do you get in free if you do a rain dance? The other girls laughed. …Piper’s snowboarding jacket sleeve hid her hand, but Jason got the feeling she was clenching her fists.”(Page 9) You were angry at the time and simply wanted to start a fight. Your response to these insults during this quest appears to have been different. Now, you respond with calmness. Life has taken on a new dimension for you.

Piper: Still, I was glad to be away from them!

Aineo: I’m glad I met you, Piper, and good luck on your quest!

Overall, like any other human, our demigod friends have to face real-world challenges and learn from their experiences. Toward the end of this article, I would like to mention what E.E. Cummings once stated, "it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." It requires a high price for maturity. It is, however, a matter of calling when the right time is opportune. Don't miss out on this opportunity. Inevitably, it is bittersweet. Our heroes have shown that there is always a rewarding outcome to their efforts. One cannot indulge in childhood forever when nothing matters. Instead, he enters adulthood, where he can bear his own weight, that of others, and even the world.

Reply:

Aineo,

You’ve created an engaging piece of writing this week! Your reporter, Aineo, is certainly knowledgeable!

Your introduction situates our heroes in the demigod universe and is particularly effective at establishing your audience as well as who is involved in the story and what they are doing: “Despite the fact that Jason has no memory of his past life, he still has to lead his newly made friends on a dangerous quest. He needs to save Hera, or Juno. The two companions, Piper and Leo, assist him in surviving every stop and engaging in more and more battles.”

A news article will answer all the journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, and why. More specifically, a news report will answer: Who is involved? What is happening? Where is it happening? When is it happening? Why is it happening? The last question, “why,” is often not immediately apparent. The journalist will then gather quotes and facts that can help approach this question. This will explain why. If you read a news article you will usually get the first four questions answered in the first few sentences. Then, the journalist will add details that help to explain why, or at least offer multiple perspectives that stitched together will help the reader draw conclusions. Your introduction answers the first questions, and your interviews answer the last.

You focus your article on interviews with the characters in which the reporter asks about experiences that have changed them on the quest. For example, when you say: “In your opinion, what was the most challenging obstacle you had to overcome?” you are asking Jason to assess his knowledge of himself and his journey so far. This is an effective question because it gets the character to reveal essential details. Reporters focus on asking great questions, and this question gets right to the heart of the character’s development. Another nice touch was the empathetic reporter’s acknowledgement of the “difficulty” of Jason’s relationship with Hera, drawing out the response “I try to rescue her instead of blaming her.” His reflection here is truly heroic.

Your approach to the interviews also reveals how the characters will grow in the adventure. Leo shares that he overcame a great fear: “One aspect of that experience was particularly frightening: I used fire. It is the thing I have sworn never to use. I guess if you are about to get eaten by some cyclops, it doesn't count.” His confrontation of his long-held restriction will help him understand his identity more clearly. Piper, too, is learning. For example, when Piper is asked what she has learned, she responds, is as that she is “less sensitive to insults.” She reflects further, “Looking back, I now realize that punching someone every time they called me a name was pointless and ridiculous. Like Virginia Woolf said, ‘The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages.’” With this reflection, you capture Piper’s internal conflict and her developing confidence as the story moves toward resolution.

Each of the characters has had to present a face to the outside world and to each other. How do you think their growth individually relates to their growth as a team. In Chapter 24, Piper and Leo both use their powers to escape a harrowing encounter with a Cyclops family at Monocle Motors. Their “leader,” Jason, is inert. How do the three heroes develop trust in each other as a result of the experience? How does their experience impact their internal conflicts? In other words, what do they learn about themselves and who they are that make them all dynamic characters with a positive story arc? Answering questions like this fill extend your analysis of theme even further.

You do a great job of capturing the plot, characters, conflicts and asking piercing questions in your interviews. Your conclusion connects the themes of the text to the world at large: “Our heroes have shown that there is always a rewarding outcome to their efforts. One cannot indulge in childhood forever when nothing matters. Instead, he enters adulthood, where he can bear his own weight, that of others, and even the world.”

Fantastic work!