Journal: Stranded on the Sand

Student Samples

My initial reaction would to stop the fire on the plane and look into what essentials we
have and choose them wisely. My companions and I would need to calm down and take
a breather so that we can understand our situation and not to act rationally. The first
thing I´ d do is make sure we have something to make a fire with and clothes for when it
gets dark out because that´s when it starts to get cold, no weapons just yet. Me and my
companions would also need to gather food and establish how much we all will eat each
day, and make sure there is enough share to go around. And last but not least make a
stress signal to notify the rescue teams.

My initial reaction would be to panic. Panic is a normal reaction for people when put into
situations or places they haven't been in before. I would try to calm down and get aware
of my surroundings trying to figure out what to do. My main goal would be to try and find
people so we could work together. Working together in this situation is best when in this
situation cause there are many mindsets needed.
Journal: Leadership
Student Samples

Some qualities of a good leader are empathy, passion, integrity, and courage. I think
that Piggy and Jack would make good co-chiefs. This decision comes from Piggy
showing he cares a lot about everyone on the island and seems very passionate. Jack
also has a background of being a leader and it's clear he has integrity because the choir
still trusts and follows him even after the crash. If I were there, I don't believe I would
make a good chief. I would get too overstimulated and get so worried trying to make
sure everyone was happy.

Good qualities that a leader should have are decisiveness, bravery, intelligence, and
compassion. I think that Piggy should have been elected chief because he has the
smarts and compassion for the job. He might not be able to accomplish certain survival
skills on his own, but he would be able to find someone who was more capable, and put
them to work. Piggy is, also, good at seeing the bigger picture, which is important for a
leader. I would not be a good chief in their situation, due to my indecisiveness. I would
be second guessing all of my decisions, causing survival to be more difficult for
everyone else.
Journal: Savages
Student Samples

Acting "savage" is typically when someone is acting violent, wild, and irrational;
something like an animal. Acting "proper" is when a person acts according to the
guidelines of society. Some of these guidelines are wearing clothes, walking on two
feet, and speaking in proper sentences. The line between acting "savage" or "proper"
can be blurred, but it is a rare case. Children will sometimes do this when they are
playing pretend. The line for the boys in the story is starting to blur. They were not
careful with the fire, causing some boys to die. It wasn't explicitly stated that the boys
died, but it was implied that they did. The boys that are still alive did feel guilt for their
actions, so they have not gone savage, but they did cause the deaths of some other
boys, so they are not exactly proper either. They are currently teetering on the line
between acting "savage" and "proper".

The difference between savage and proper is a pretty fine line. Because the term
savage is meant to be used to define something or someone of no hesitation and no
morality. Being proper is defining something or someone by giving a more in line and
collected purpose. However, savagery can be taken the wrong way. For instance, in
Shrek they think of Shrek as a savage human eating ogre. But in the end he just wants
to live in peace in his swamp. I feel that the terms savage and proper can be blurred.
Predicting the future of the book, I think that savagery will truly come into play when the
people following Ralph attempt to overthrow his rule and become unhinged. Overall,
when it comes to survival in the wild there are many reasons why you shouldn't have to
care about being proper. Because sometimes you have to listen to your instincts for
survival. But it is important to keep some of yourself proper because that will eliminate
you to really let loose and lose yourself to madness.
Journal: Camouflage
Student Samples

Jack's intention, was to use the mask for hunting the pigs. But perhaps, in addition to
hiding from the pigs, it helps him to hide from the shame he holds. The story states that
he was almost unrecognizable, whatever Jack was before is gone now. He might
consider himself a burden to the other boys or a failure due to the fact that he was
unable to catch the pigs previously. Or maybe the shame he holds from a previous life
that I can't elaborate on due to the fact that I don't know.

Maybe the camouflage is metaphorically hiding him from judgement from the other
boys? With the camouflage on it's like he's a whole new person who can express how
he REALLY feels with less judgement with it on. Or maybe he's trying to cover up his
true intentions with his social skills and his status as the choir boys leader. Jack's
camouflage also helps him hide from his past in England as a whole. When he puts it on
it's as if his thinking is entirely messed up. Imagine a line, one side is insanity and
instability, and the other is sane and stability. Jack is undoubtedly leaning towards the
unstable side, masking his intent to kill, be it a human or some pigs, he is NOT there in
the head at the moment. I can maybe see the camouflage literally hiding him from other
things like the other boys maybe.
Journal: Values
Student Samples

Jack should be punished for causing the boys to miss out on getting rescued. While
survival is important, their end goal is to get rescued. The fact that Jack caused them to
not get rescued deserves punishment. A fitting punishment for Jack would be that he
has to keep the fire going for a full day. During this day he does not get any food. He
can have water so that he doesn't faint, but no food. He is also not allowed to leave the
fire site until his punishment is over. On top of all that, he will have to keep the fire going
by himself. This will also be a lesson for the other boys. They will now know what will
happen if they don't do their jobs.

I don't think he should necessarily be punished, although he should definitely be more

wary and NOT take all the kids hunting. We know he doesn't like getting yelled at so
why do the wrong thing, I don't know maybe he's into that. Punishing Jack of all people
isn't going to get anyone anywhere, it'd probably just set them back. He seems like the
type of character to be SUPER petty or plot his revenge after someone does something
to him that he doesn't like. I know he's older than most kids, but it's as if its a genuine
toddler in a 12 year olds body. You got to baby them the entire time and watch over
them just to make sure they do what they gotta do. Maybe someone should remind him
before he and the other hunters go hunting to leave a kid or two for the fire to be kept
alive. Maybe pair an older kid with him (Buddy system) and make that kid keep Jack on
track.
Journal: Perception
Student Samples

Ralph noticed that his clothes had gotten much more contaminated with dirt. They've
also been using the island as their own "bathroom". They aren't even bothered to clean
up the mess they make. If the boys could realize that they need to clean up after
themselves and take care of themselves, they would be more clean and think more
clean. To take into consideration, you can't reallythink clean if your surroundings aren't
physically clean. If they could think more clearly, maybe they'd realize they need to be
more mature and figure out how to seek help from this island.

Throughout the time they have spent on this island, their appearances and nature most
likely were not the same as they were in the boy's previous life. The boys have broken
their rules which led to the slow decline of their cleanliness. They have been seen using
the bathroom all across the island, when they were only supposed to do so by a specific
rock. They even consider using it by the fruit which they're supposed to care for. Instead
of following their line of proper and appropriateness, they are crossing that line and
turning into savages. In order for them to become cleaner, it would be best if they
started drifting back into following their rules.
Journal: Falsehood
Student Samples

The most harmful falsehood that the boys are having to deal with is the beast. It might
not seem that harmful because, from what we know, it isn't real. For the boys, though, it
is harmful. They can't decide whether or not it is real. This indecision is causing
arguments and a power struggle between the boys. While there are other factors that
play into the power struggle, the beast situation is one of them. The beast is also
causing them unnecessary fear, anxiety, and poor sleep. All of these attributes are bad
enough on their own, but the boys are in a survival situation. Their sanity is a big part of
whether or not they will survive. These factors can lower sanity, also causing the boys
chances of survival to go down. This is why the falsehood of the beast is so harmful and
why it needs to be dealt with.

The most harmful falsehood that the boys had to deal with was the hunters saying they
were going to keep the fire up but they didn't. It was a falsehood to the people around
them and to themselves. This is the most harmful way because this was their main way
of getting off the island. With the hunters putting their wants before the entire island's
benefit was very wrong. They have prevented the boys from getting off the island much
earlier than they could've.
Journal: Equilibrium
Student Samples

The balance of power between Jack and Ralph is not equal. I don't think that it ever will
be. Ralph is in control when it comes to meetings. But, when it comes to hunting and
who the boys listen to, it's Jack. When Jack told the twins to abandon the fire and go
with him, they did it. They betrayed Ralph's orders and decided to go with Jack anyway.
I think that the leader should be Ralph. He is more responsible and he isn't slowly going
insane like Jack is.

No, the balance of power between Jack and Ralph is not equal. It has never been
equal. Ralph is the leader of the group and Jack is the leader of the hunters. Whatever
Ralph says Jack has to listen to him. If one boy must have more power than the other,
Ralph should be the one to have more power. Ralph thinks more for the benefit of the
group and does things that will help the group survive. Jack, however, wants power just
to be more powerful than others. He wants the power to benefit himself and not for the
group's sake. Therefore, Ralph is a better option if he had to have more power.