Write a detailed summary of the first 30 pages introducing the main character, setting, and plot.

    The main character is named Louie Banks. Louie is a senior and he's working very hard for a starting spot on the football team. Usually, when practice starts at the end of the summer, everyone is out of shape and not ready for the season. Louie and his best friend have been working out all summer in order to be in their best shape for the football season. Louie works part time at a bar cleaning up during the day before the bar opens at night. On the football team, Louie is supposed to be starting this year but his number one goal is not to screw up. The story takes place in a high school setting in Trout. The high school has an eight-person football team taking into consideration that the school has less than 125 students.

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Write a page character analysis of an interesting character you have met so far. It doesn’t have to be the main character although it may be. What is the character like and how does the author reveal the characterization to you?

     The head coach, Lednecky, is projected as a jerk. During a particular scene in the book, the Trout football team is playing their rivals. Trout high school has been champions for two years and a row and their goal is to make it a third. Salmon River High School, Trout's rival, has a new African American player who seems to have everyone nervous for the game. Lednecky starts out a few practices before the game by telling the guys that their goal is to take the guy out. He also is a very dedicated coach but he used the wrong tactics to win.

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Choose two significant quotations from what you have read so far. Write the quote below along with the page number and explain in a well-developed paragraph the importance of the quotation.

"I may be a wussy most of the time, but I have my moments."                                 Page 91
    Louie told readers this after he finally stood up to the principal and Coach Lednecky. I think this quote is important because one, it's the truth, and two, it was completely necessary for Louie to do so. Louie had been contemplating to rejoin the team after the stunt he pulled during the game. He first decided that he was going to rejoin but changed his mind again after Coach made his conditions. Louie told the principal and Coach HIS conditions and got in trouble for them, but he still did what he had to do.

"I may coach rough football, but I coach clean football"                                       Page 89
    These are Coach Lednecky's words during the meeting between the principal, coach, and Louie. The book began, and is basically based on, the fact that the coach IS coaching dirty football. I think that somehow, the coach should be found out and have consequences. The consequences should start, at the least, that he is demoted to assistant coach. It doesn't matter how long a person has been in a position if they're doing it wrongly.

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Choose any scene from the novel and take on the point of view of another character in the scene and rewrite the scene from that character’s point of view.
    I walked into the cafe that evening with a few of my friends and other than the football guys, I saw an old friend from when I lived in Trout. Louie banks and I had been friends since elementary school and my friends and I sat with him after I gave him a hug.
    Anyways, we got to talking and I pondered why he wasn't at his football game. He ended up explaining to me why he was suspended after the game from the previous week. Apparently, his jerk of a coach set up the whole thing and then continued to deny it. I didn't think the whole situation was right.
    After he had asked who the "black guy" was in the corner, I asked him if he wanted me to introduce them. I wish he would have said yes, because them both being as dedicated as they were to sports, whether good or not, I think they would have liked each other. Also, I know that Louie would have made things right after Boomer put Washington out for a week or two because of several bruised ribs.

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By now you should have a good idea about the novel’s conflict. Explain the conflict giving enough details so I can get it. Then make a prediction about what you think will happen in the novel.
     Louie and Becky spent the weekend together at Becky's families summer cabin. The two planned to take away Louie's innocence, but didn't because he wasn't ready. The two grew increasingly closer ever since the weekend. Spring came eventually and the two had plans that night... or so they thought. Louie was on his work shift when his mom pulled up. A few minutes previous when Louie and Carter were sitting around chatting, they saw an ambulance go by and they both didn't think anything of it. Louie's mom informs him that Becky is dead. After the whole event, Louie is very angry with God. He is pondering why he would do this and why he won't give him a reason. It seems that everything is going wrong for Louie.           

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Choose any character you have encountered in the novel so far. Choose five objects that this character would put in his or her pocket, purse, bag, or suitcase. In other words, these are objects that help define the character. For example, if someone were to write about me, he would probably list a bottle of water as an object that helped define me and then would go on to explain that I was never without a bottle of water and that it was necessary for me to drink lots of water because of my kidney and so on…Whatever you choose explain why these objects are appropriate for the selected character. Then if the person were to carry a bag, what kind of bag would it be? Describe it and explain why.
        Character: Louie Banks
        Object 1: A memory of Becky. I have a belief that Louie will always remember Becky because one, she was his first love and also, because of the way that things ended between them.
        Object 2: Louie's truck. Louie's truck is a prized possession to him because he bought it with his own money and even though it may not be the best looking truck in the world, it runs when everyone else's in town doesn't.
    Object 3: key to Norm's business. Louie seems to be here a lot taking care of things while Norm isn't there.
    Object 4: Sand. Louie and Becky always found themselves at the lake/river and this is where Louie held his own memorial service for Becky.
Object 5: Skis. Louie adopted a hobby from his grandfather. Also, a memory that he will always have of him and Becky will be skiing down to Becky's summer cabin and spending the weekend together.
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Write a quick book review following the 5 W format. As you work through your response you can label each paragraph with the journalist’s question that it explores.

Paragraph 1: WHO is the main character of the novel? How does the character change over the course of the story? How would you describe this character’s personality?
    The story Running Loose has a main character named Louie. Louie changes over the course of the beginning of the story to the end in a way that his overview of life. Louie changes his views on people in general and the way that you survive. When the story ends, Louie is the type of person that does anything he has to do to make it, but he is also honest. Also, on the last page, Louie says that "there's no use being honorable with dishonorable men."

Paragraph 2: WHAT is the novel about?
    The novel is one, a love story. Louie and Becky fall in love despite what other people say about their relationship. The relationship ends in a devastating way but no matter what, Becky will always be Louie's first love. Also, the story is about football and track. In a few people's eyes, Louie did a pretty terrible thing defending an innocent man but in the end, things go his way and he gets to be on the track team. Last, the novel is about learning lessons. During the last couple pages, Louie lists the things he learns and the things that he doesn't learn, which in my opinion, are very valuable lessons that Louie can use throughout his life.

Paragraph 3: WHERE does the story take place? What is the setting(s) and how does it add to the novel. How does the location relate to the characters and theme? What time period or era? How can you tell? If the novel involves more than one setting, choose the most important one and explain why.
    Running Loose takes place in a little town named Trout, Idaho. The setting and location of the story has key areas that relate to the story. One, for example, is a river with a bridge. Others include nearness to a specific cabin, other isolated schools nearby, etc. The story takes place during the mid 1980's. This fact is known because there is a part in the story that says the year. The most important setting of the book, in my opinion, is the Sander's summer cabin. This weekend had plans of Louie "loosing his innocence" to Becky but plans changed. This particular chapter shows that if you don't feel like doing something, that you don't have to.

Paragraph 4: WHEN does the climax of the novel occur? Tell me about it.
    In my opinion, the climax occurs when Louie beats Washington during the two-mile in track. Louie was asked to go out for track by the assistant coach of football, Coach Madison. Coach Madison asked Louie to go out for track for two reasons. The first, Madison knew how Louie felt after Becky died because of a similar situation. Second, because he had the chance to stand up for something during football season and he didn't and now he has the chance to make it right. Before the region-qualifying track meet, Louie and Washington have a chit-chat covering important parts of the novel. Louie ends up winning the race but either way, both are winners in my eyes.

Paragraph 5: WHY did the author write this story? What point is the author trying to make? Link your why response to a theme.
    The author wrote this novel to show young adults that you make your own lessons in life. Also, obstacles are thrown your way for a reason and that no matter what happens, you are responsible for the actions you take. I think the author is showing a theme of 'be yourself.' Louie acted the way that his instincts told him to and in the end, everything worked out just nifty for him.   

Paragraph 6: Rate this novel on a 1-10 scale with 1 being low and 10 being high. Then explain why. Make a recommendation about the novel one way or another.
    This novel deserves a 9, a two thumbs up! The novel showed me a different point of view rather than what I usually see, and I enjoyed it a great deal. I would recommend this novel to anyone and everyone. The novel can teach people of all ages and races a very good lesson.


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Ferris Bueller's Day Off
 

    Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, directed by John Hughes, was a great movie overall. The main character, Ferris Bueller played by Mathew Broderick, is a high school senior who thinks he can pull one over on his parents, the faculty at his high school, and basically the whole town. In the film, Ferris is faking his ninth sick day. After his parents leave, Ferris calls his best friend Cameron, played by Alan Ruck, who is also sick, so they can have a fun and eventful day. When the two get together, they begin by calling the school and getting Sloane, Ferris’ girlfriend who is played by Mia Sara, out of school as well. To do this, they have to convince their principal, Mr. Rooney, played by Jeffry Jones, and his secretary, played by Edie McClurg, that Sloan’s grandmother dies. The three are successful in pulling off this stunt and begin with their day.

    During their day, the three have lots of action filled events, that in my opinion, add to the quality of the movie. Out of ten, the film deserves a nine and a half. The movie is almost perfect in all the areas including the action, dialogue, costumes, setting, the overall acting, and the effects with the action scenes. The movie, however, is not suitable for all audiences due to some content. Anyone who is watching should be at a maturity level to deal with some of the scenes. I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good laugh.