Homework Help Forum: Literature

Posted by mysterychicken on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:42pm.

'Du Maurier, who wrote the short story The Birds, tells us that the birds are trying to destroy human life, but we never know what is making them do it. Is it really the weather, as some characters in the story think? Is it an evil force? Suppose you're a historian at some future time studying this famous bird attack. Write a feature article summing up the main events on the historical disaster and offering some possible reasons for the birds' frenzy. Be sure to tell why the murderous birds didn't succeed in wiping out the world. It should be atleast one paragraph long.' This is what I got: On the third of December on the Cornish coast of England many years ago, the weather changed overnight from a mild autumn to a cold, harsh winter. Nat Hocken, a worker at a farm noticed that the birds appear more restless than usual and told his wife about his curiosity. The people who lived near Nat didn’t believe him and didn’t take any precautions, but Nat boarded up his whole house, where he and his family were safe from the attack of the birds. It was a while before the birds’ frenzy settled down, but finally they disappeared, as quickly as they had come. People today are unsure about what caused this unusual behavior of the usually peaceful animals, but some scientists are suggesting that the birds ate something highly intoxicating, such as berries or fungus. No one knows the reason for sure, and will probably never find out but everyone today questions whether the birds will reappear or not… Is it OK? Thanks -MC

• Literature - Writeacher, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:06pm

  It's very short for a "feature article." I don't see that you've addressed these questions, either: **Is it really the weather, as some characters in the story think? **Is it an evil force? **Be sure to tell why the murderous birds didn't succeed... This is too vague to work: "People today are unsure about what caused this unusual behavior of the usually peaceful animals, but some scientists are suggesting that the birds ate something highly intoxicating, such as berries or fungus."

  
  

• Literature - mysterychicken, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:07pm

  Alright, any suggestions on how I can change this up? -MC

  
  

• Literature - Writeacher, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:08pm

  Answer the questions!!

  
  

• Literature - mysterychicken, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:10pm

  Yes ma'am -MC

  
  

• Literature - mysterychicken, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:12pm

  Here we go: On the third of December on the Cornish coast of England many years ago, the weather changed overnight from a mild autumn to a cold, harsh winter. Nat Hocken, a worker at a farm noticed that the birds appear more restless than usual and told his wife about his curiosity. The people who lived near Nat didn’t believe him and didn’t take any precautions, but Nat boarded up his whole house, where he and his family were safe from the attack of the birds. It was a while before the birds’ frenzy settled down, but finally they disappeared, as quickly as they had come. People today are unsure about what caused this unusual behavior of the usually peaceful animals, but some scientists are suggesting that the birds ate something highly intoxicating, such as berries or fungus. In the time that it happened, most people, including Nat, suggested that it was the weather but we’re thinking differently today. Even though the birds were murderous, they didn’t succeed in wiping out the world because the US Army’s forces were stronger. Had they not been there, humans would probably be living in bubbles to be safe today, or there might not have been any more humans left. -MC

  
  

• Literature - Writeacher, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 9:36pm

  MUCH better!! In the second sentence, you should have "appeared" since the main verb is "noticed" -- they need to be consistent. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/consistency.htm In the third sentence, you should replace "where" with "so that" and it'll make better sense. Good job!!

  
  

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