The novel out of my mind opens with a powerful discussion of the power of words and language. How does this help capture the reader’s attention? It captures the reader’s attention by giving them something to learn about while also being introduced to the main character Melody Brooks A disabled girl with cerebral palsy. What predictions can the reader make about the narrator of the story? The reader can predict that she believes that words are very powerful. So people who cant talk really want a voice. What inferences can be made about the thought process of the narrator’s mind. The reader can infer that the narrator’s mind is very complex and wants to raise awareness for people with special needs. You can also infer that the narrator thoughts are words can mean a lot and they are sacred to people so use your word wisely or there will be consequences.

Melody decides to try out for the quiz team, To prove to everyone that just because she has disabilities doesn’t mean that she isn’t smart. Some obstacles she has to face are Claire and Molly they think that Melody is a freak because she has cerebral palsy, the fact that she can’t talk, also how people say she’s cheating because she has a computer. So they think she is storing answers on the computer she uses to talk.

The Non-verbal communication activity was interesting. Because you couldn’t talk and only use your board and thumbs. This activity was pretty much putting yourself in Melodys shoes. The purpose of this was to show what it’s like to be disabled. As well as creating empathy for the disabled.

I chose words and phrases such as Yes, No, and Thank you. I chose these words because I use them a lot. I chose how are you because that is a common question. If I had to do it again I would not change the words I chose. Because most of the words I chose fit in with the words I needed.

The Non-Verbal conversation was very difficult especially when we didn’t have the words on the board that we needed. When I was using my board to talk it was fine most of the time. But when we messed up or had to start over it was frustrating. Because we had to spell out everything. I got mad a couple of times while using it but mostly calm.

This changed the way I view melody by creating sympathy for her. makes me view her life like I have a idea what its like. Even though I only used it for a little bit. She has to use it her whole life. Which is way worse than using it for 30 minutes.

The inclusion program changes Melody’s school experience by letting her participate in “normal” kid activities and allows her to interact and learn with the other kids. But the downsides to this are that there are kids that make fun of her for her disabilities which is extremely mean. She can’t do some activities that most kids can do like writing essays. But its also good for reasons such as Melody can make more friends and learn at the same pace as everyone else. Melody’s unrealized need for a friend is Sad because some people won’t be friends with her because she is disabled. But like all human beings we are social animals we rely on each other for comfort which is why we need friends. A true friend to me is someone who you can go to when you need help and makes you smile. Friendship is very important to human society as stated earlier so on a scale 1-10 it is probably a 9 but this is just my opinion.

The reason that Ollie’s story is significant is because it shows how she couldn’t save him due to her disability’s even though she really really really wanted to because he was very very very very  important to her. Ollies life mirrors Melodys because he can’t move anywhere because he is confined to a small bowl just like how Melody due to her disability’s is confined to her wheelchair just like melody. When Ollie died melody was very sad but she was mad at the same time because her mom didnt come fast enough and her mom was mad at her because she thought she tipped the bowl and killed the fish. She was also mad because she couldn’t tell her mom what really happened. While also being sad and mourning the death of her poor poor fish that sadly ended his life on that tragic day when he jumped out of his bowl    

My name is Daniel                                                                        

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